American biopharma giant
Weight-loss GLP-1 drugs are expanding beyond injections to pills in the US, UK and UAE. Major manufacturers report rising uptake and ongoing development, with Medicare and NHS access shaping pace and affordability. Private prescriptions and new formulations are widening access while competition accelerates.
Anthropic has introduced Claude Science, a workspace that links Claude models to 60+ databases and specialized toolkits to automate life-sciences tasks. The platform includes a project-management workflow, sub-assistants, and a fact-checker to improve reproducibility. Early users report rapid genome browser creation and computational review pipelines.
The FDA has approved Lipfendra, Merck’s oral PCSK9 inhibitor, to lower LDL cholesterol in patients on statins. Trials show ~55-60% LDL reductions; the pill will be sold at about $315/month and must be taken on an empty stomach. Analysts see potential peak sales in the billions as injectable rivals face competition and access barriers.