[Global Pharma News, September 11, 2026]

1. Novartis major shareholder demands board restructuring, questioning decision-making on transactions According to Reuters, a major shareholder of Novartis has publicly called for a board restructuring following two consecutive critical clinical trial failures. The shareholder has raised serious concerns about the board’s oversight capacity regarding merger-and-acquisition deals—specifically targeting Novartis’ $12 billion acquisition of Avidity and its del-desiran candidate, which failed in a Phase III trial for Steinert disease, as well as the large-scale cardiovascular Phase III trial of pelacarsen. 2. Takeda R&D President Andy Plump announces retirement, to step down next June Andy Plump, President of Research & Development at Takeda, announced he will retire in June 2027. Plump joined Takeda during a period of organizational turbulence and championed a closer collaboration model with emerging biotech companies. CEO Julie Kim described his legacy as having laid a "lasting foundation." 3. AbbVie’s migraine drug atogepant meets primary endpoint in Phase III study for menstrual migraine AbbVie’s preventive migraine treatment, atogepant (Qulipta), delivered positive results in a Phase III clinical trial for menstrual migraine—a previously unaddressed indication—further broadening the drug’s clinical utility. 4. Bayer’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor Hyrnuo approved by U.S. FDA for first-line treatment of HER2-mutated non-small cell lung cancer Bayer’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor Hyrnuo has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for first-line treatment of patients with HER2-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. This approval comes approximately six months after Boehringer Ingelheim’s similar drug, Hernexeos, received comparable FDA authorization—marking the formal onset of head-to-head competition between the two agents. 5. Biohaven’s epilepsy candidate BHV-7000 placed on partial clinical hold by U.S. FDA just weeks after signing $350 million deal The U.S. FDA has placed Biohaven’s epilepsy candidate BHV-7000 on partial clinical hold—halting patient enrollment—due to findings from rodent studies. The announcement came only weeks after the asset was signed into a $350 million transaction, delivering a significant blow to involved parties. 6. Spyre’s IL-23 antibody achieves IBD "three-peat", validating its triple-pronged strategy

Foreign pharmaceutical companies flock to Beijing, setting up shop adjacent to China’s NMPA

By Qu Yixian In late March, global CEOs of multinational pharmaceutical companies visited China en masse. Most attended the China Development Forum 2025 Annual Conference, while others participated in the 6th International Pharmaceutical Innovation Conference. According to an incomplete tally by the Economic Observer, over a dozen global CEOs of multinational pharma companies visited China within the past week—including Albert Bourla, Chairman and CEO of Pfizer; Vasant Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis; Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca; André Hoffmann, Vice-Chairman of the Roche Group Board of Directors and representative of the Roche founding family; David A. Ricks, Chairman and CEO of Eli Lilly; Christophe Weber, Chairman, President, and CEO of Takeda; Paul McKenzie, CEO and Managing Director of CSL Limited; and Hubertus von Baumbach, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim. Pharmaceuticals is a highly policy-sensitive industry: regulatory review and approval processes, negotiations for inclusion in the national health insurance reimbursement list, centralized procurement of drugs and medical devices, and the final “last-mile” hospital access—all profoundly influence corporate market performance, foreign enterprises included. Publicly disclosed itineraries indicate that meeting with government officials ranked among the top priorities for these visiting CEOs. Other common agenda items included business site visits, meetings with customers, and discussions with business partners. As the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market, China is strategically vital to the global operations of multinational pharma companies. Behind this wave of high-level visits, what are these global CEOs concerned about—and what do they hope to achieve? New Faces and Old Friends Chris Toth, CEO of Vantive, is a newcomer to the China Development Forum. This marks Vantive’s first high-profile appearance in China since officially becoming an independent company earlier this year. Toth told the Economic Observer that this is his first time attending the China Development Forum, and he is delighted to engage in in-depth dialogue with policymakers and fellow industry leaders on the future of healthcare in China. In February 2025, Baxter’s renal care business was formally spun off to establish Vantive—a new, dedicated organ therapy company. Vantive inherits over 70 years of innovation and leadership in global renal care pioneered by Baxter. Vantive has operated in the Chinese market for 35 years and has established comprehensive, end-to-end localization—including its China headquarters in Shanghai, three manufacturing facilities, one R&D center, and one technical service center. Notably, Vantive’s Suzhou R&D Center celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. Toth emphasized that the Chinese market is critically important to Vantive’s global strategy. In his view, digital health technologies are a key driver of industry transformation. Take home dialysis, for example: digital technologies can enhance patient experience during dialysis, optimize clinical workflows for healthcare teams, and improve therapeutic outcomes. Paul McKenzie is also attending the China Development Forum for the first time this year.

Roche Proposes Former Takeda CEO for Board Seat

13 hours ago

Roche has nominated Christoph Weber, former CEO of Takeda Pharmaceuticals, for election to its board of directors at the upcoming Annual General Meeting in March. Company leadership cites his extensive healthcare industry experience as a key asset for strengthening the board.

reuters

2026-09-22

Roche Proposes Former Takeda CEO for Board Seat

Roche Proposes Former Takeda CEO for Board Seat

FAQ