Generic drugmakers will face import tariffs in the U.S., President Donald Trump announced this week. Samsung Biologics is pursuing the biggest M&A deal ever for a Korean biopharma company. In an unconventional move, a U.S. biotech is gunning for an IPO in Hong Kong first. And more.<\/p>\n
1. Trump floats countdown to 200% tariffs on generic drugs imported to US<\/a><\/p>\n The U.S. will implement a 100% tariff on generic drug imports beginning in August of 2028, after which it will be raised to 200% the following year, President Donald Trump declared on social media. According to a person familiar with the matter, the policy will apply to both finished drugs and API. While generic makers don\u2019t have to sign formal deals with the White House, they have a two-year window to reshore production before tariffs kick in, the person said.<\/p>\n 2. Samsung Biologics spreads wings with proposed $1.8B acquisition of Swiss CDMO PolyPeptide<\/a><\/p>\n In the biggest acquisition on record by a Korean biopharma company, Samsung Biologics will buy Swiss CDMO PolyPepide for 1.46 Swiss francs ($1.8 billion). The deal \u201creinforces our long-term growth strategy by not only broadening our service portfolio with modality expansion into peptides including\u00a0GLP-1, but by also boosting our geographic reach,\u201d Samsung Biologics CEO John Rim said.\u00a0<\/p>\n 3. \u2018There is always a first\u2019: Why US biotech Axiom will begin its IPO journey in Hong Kong<\/a><\/p>\n In a first for a U.S. biotech, Axiom Biosciences plans to go public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange first, followed by a double listing on the Nasdaq. The company\u2019s international investor pool, coupled with a partnership with Korea\u2019s Medinno on its lead cell therapy for two fatal newborn neurological diseases, made the Hong Kong listing an easy choice, CEO Remo Moomiaie-Qajar, M.D., said.\u00a0<\/p>\n 4. \u2018Substantially better than before\u2019: Why India has golden opportunity to build on innovative R&D wins<\/a><\/p>\n India has seen some \u201cgreen shoots\u201d of biotech innovation, with more than 10 novel assets by local drugmakers over the past decade, according to a new report from HealthKois and Boston Consulting Group. India\u2019s annual pharma R&D spend, at around $2 billion to $3 billion, continues to lag that of other countries, but the Indian government is funding emerging technologies.\u00a0<\/p>\n 5. Why Legend Biotech stock fell 10% despite record Carvykti sales<\/a><\/p>\n J&J\u2019s bispecific combo slashes myeloma progression risk by 89% in phase 3 trial<\/a><\/p>\n After Johnson & Johnson reported record Carvykti sales and strong growth, its partner Legend Biotech\u2019s shares tanked 10% on July 15. Investors were likely rattled by comments that J&J\u2019s innovative medicine chief, Jennifer Taubert, made during the earnings call, where she described the company\u2019s alternative bispecific Tecvayli as holding \u201cthe potential for cure.\u201d Then this week, J&J reported the doublet of Tecvayli and Talvey improved progression-free survival by 89% and overall survival by 62% compared with standard of care in previously treated multiple myeloma. However, the company indicated that this combo won\u2019t be a major threat to Carvykti.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n 6. Summit Therapeutics updates ivonescimab survival data ahead of FDA decision date<\/a><\/p>\n Summit Therapeutics offered another look at the overall survival data in the Western population of the phase 3 HARMONi trial for Akeso-partnered ivonescimab. At a data cut-off in June 2026, the OS hazard ratio in that subgroup improved to 0.76, matching the overall trial population. While the data do not bear statistical significance, Summit has shared them with the FDA amid an ongoing review in previously treated EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer.<\/p>\n Other News of Note:\u00a0<\/p>\n 7. Takeda\u2019s zasocitinib proves \u2018top-notch\u2019 for difficult-to-treat psoriasis in phase 3 update<\/a><\/p>\n 8. Roche Diagnostics growth remains muted amid China headwinds<\/a><\/p>\n 9. Huahai poaches quality chief from Hengrui amid FDA manufacturing citations<\/a><\/p>\n 10. China 1st to endorse Takeda’s narcolepsy drug<\/a> (Regulatory tracker)<\/p>\n 11. A Fatal Reaction\u2014A cutting-edge gene-editing trial in China went disastrously wrong<\/a> (Science)<\/p>\n 12. Indian generics maker Lupin seeds US spinout Kaveri with cash, clinical-phase cancer assets<\/a><\/p>\n 13. Alembic site slapped with FDA warning letter over patient consent concerns<\/a><\/p>\n 14. FDA rebukes 2 Indian API plants over data controls, sanitation issues<\/a><\/p>\n