Global Briefs: Novartis, Takeda, Biocon & More
A roundup of news from Novartis, Takeda, Biocon, Lundbeck and Mabwell Bioscience. Highlights below.
Mfg News
* Biocon Opens Expanded US Solid Dosage Mfg Facility
Partnering News
* Novartis, Monte Rosa in $5.7-Bn Molecular Glue Degrader Pact for Immune-Mediated Diseases
* Ex-Novartis CEO’s VC Firm & Mabwell Bioscience Launch New Company in $1-Bn siRNA Drug Pact
Appointments
* Takeda Names Ex Lilly Executive as President of US Business
General
* Lundbeck Reorganizing Commercial Operating Model in 27 Markets
Mfg News
Biocon Opens Expanded US Solid Dosage Mfg Facility
Biocon has inaugurated its first US manufacturing facility in Cranbury, New Jersey, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Biocon Generics Inc.
Biocon acquired the oral solid dosage facility from Eywa Pharma in 2023 and has since invested over $30 million to establish a plant with an annual production capacity of 2 billion tablets. A few products have already been commercialized from the site, with several more in the pipeline.
Source: Biocon
Partnering News
Novartis, Monte Rosa in $5.7-Bn Molecular Glue Degrader Pact for Immune-Mediated Diseases
Novartis and Monte Rosa Therapeutics, a clinical-stage bio/pharmaceutical company developing molecular glue degrader-based medicines, have entered an agreement to develop degraders for immune-mediated diseases, in a deal worth up to $5.7 billion ($120 million upfront and $5.6 billion in potential milestone payments).
The agreement is Monte Rosa Therapeutics’ second with Novartis, in addition to the companies’ global exclusive license agreement for Monte Rosa’s VAV1 degraders, including MRT-6160, announced in October 2024.
The agreement was structured by the companies to collaborate on accelerating development of degraders for important immune-mediated diseases for difficult-to-drug targets. Under the agreement, Monte Rosa will apply its proprietary artificial intelligence—machine learning-enabled QuEEN product engine for the discovery and development of degraders to be further developed and commercialized by Novartis.
Under the agreement, Monte Rosa will receive an upfront payment of $120 million. Monte Rosa will also receive payments to maintain the options. In total deal value, Monte Rosa is eligible to receive up to $5.7 billion, including upfront, option maintenance, preclinical milestone, option exercise, and development, regulatory, and sales milestone payments across programs, as well as tiered royalties on global net sales in the high single to low double-digit range.
Source: Monte Rosa Therapeutics
Ex-Novartis CEO’s VC Firm & Mabwell Bioscience Launch New Company in $1-Bn siRNA Drug Pact
Aditum Bio, a venture capital firm co-founded by Joe Jimenz, former CEO of Novartis, and Mabwell Bioscience, a bio/pharmaceutical company, have announced the launch of Kalexo Bio, a new company formed in conjunction with an exclusive global license agreement to develop 2MW7141, a dual-target siRNA candidate for lipid management in patients with dyslipidemia and for the prevention of high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events.
Aditum Bio will provide funding for Kalexo Bio, and the parties will collaborate to advance 2MW7141 into clinical development.
Under the agreement, Mabwell will grant Kalexo Bio exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize 2MW7141. Mabwell is eligible to receive a total of up to $1 billion upfront and milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on global sales. This includes $12 million in non-refundable upfront and near-term cash payments. Mabwell will also receive an equity stake in Kalexo Bio.
Source: Mabwell Bioscience
Appointments
Takeda Names Ex Lilly Executive as President of US Business
Takeda has announced that Rhonda Pacheco, most recently Group Vice President of US Cardiometabolic Health at Eli Lilly and Company, will join Takeda, effective September 29, 2025, as President of Takeda’s US Business Unit and will be a member of the Takeda Executive Team.
Pacheco will succeed Julie Kim, formerly President of Takeda’s U.S. Business Unit who was appointed earlier this year (January 2025) by the Takeda Board of Directors to succeed Christophe Weber as President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Takeda in June 2026. With Pacheco’s appointment, Kim will focus on preparing for the CEO transition, which includes serving as Interim Head of the Global Portfolio Division.
Pacheco comes to Takeda from Lilly, where she oversaw complex portfolios in a range of leadership roles, including successful product launches, most recently its GLP-1 portfolio, and delivered strong commercial performance.
Source: Takeda
General
Lundbeck Reorganizing Commercial Operating Model in 27 Markets
Lundbeck, a bio/pharmaceutical company focused on brain health, has announced a change to its commercial operating model.
As a next step in the continued execution of its Focused Innovator strategy, Lundbeck will transition its commercial operations to a partnership model in 27 markets in Europe and internationally through new partnerships with Swixx Group, Zuellig Pharma, and NewBridge Pharmaceuticals. The partnership model will ensure continued access to Lundbeck’s medicines through regional partners while Lundbeck will discontinue its commercial organizations in the countries in scope. In addition, Lundbeck will transition the majority of its current partner markets into the new partnerships with Swixx Group, Zuellig Pharma, and NewBridge Pharmaceuticals.
Lundbeck says it conducted an analysis of how it currently deploys resources across markets, which showed that Lundbeck cannot optimally serve all patients in all markets itself without spreading its resources too thin, according to the company. The selected partners have strong regional expertise and infrastructure to continue to maintain and expand access to Lundbeck’s medicines. The currently marketed portfolio of Lundbeck products will continue to be available in the impacted countries, and during the transition phase, Lundbeck and the new partners will prioritize upholding business continuity to ensure continued access to Lundbeck’s medicines.
Source: Lundbeck
