Behind the Headlines, Episode 18: Sanofi, GSK Go Big in M&A, mRNA Momentum Falters, and More
Jon Ellis and Simon Vanstone, PhD, go behind the headlines to explore the latest M&A activity and what tariffs and funding changes could mean for mRNA and beyond.
Behind the Headlines is a bi-weekly panel discussion examining the latest trends, readouts, and other factors that drive pharmaceutical news and innovation. Each episode features consultants, venture capitalists, scientists, patient advocates, and journalists discussing the prior weeks’ top news while seeking to highlight the more enduring lessons that hide behind the headlines.
In episode 18, we’re joined by panelists Jon Ellis, co-founder and CEO of Trenchant Bio, and Simon Vanstone, PhD, consultant at SiVan Consulting Ltd, who analyze the latest wave of industry-shaping headlines—unpacking strategic acquisitions, biotech innovations, and the geopolitical currents impacting global biopharma operations.
Major M&A Deals
The panelists began by spotlighting several significant deals making headlines recently. Sanofi’s acquisition of Blueprint Medicines—valued at $9.1 billion—raised eyebrows not just for its scale but also for the return to a more traditional modality (1). CEO Paul Hudson called the deal “a strategic step forward” in bolstering the company’s rare disease and immunology portfolio. Ellis noted the irony of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor—once the poster child of earlier biotech waves—commanding a nearly 30% premium on Blueprint’s prior share price.
Next, Eli Lilly’s $1 billion acquisition of SiteOne Therapeutics’ non-opioid Nav1.8 inhibitor added further momentum to non-addictive pain management R&D (2). Vanstone noted the strategic fit given SiteOne’s previous collaboration with Vertex on the Journavx compound.
The acquisition watch continued with GSK’s announcement of a deal worth up to $2 billion for a candidate targeting alcohol-related liver disease (ALD)—a condition affecting more than 26 million people globally (3). The drug comes via Boston Pharmaceuticals and signals GSK’s continued push into unmet needs within hepatology.
Navigating Tariffs and Tumbling Trust
The conversation shifted to less celebratory news: the challenges posed by growing tariffs and cooling sentiment toward mRNA-based vaccines. With reports that the U.S. government had canceled $700 million in funding for Moderna’s bird flu vaccine program (4), Ellis and Vanstone emphasized the importance of collaborative strategies to insulate emerging therapies—particularly in cell and gene therapy—from supply chain disruptions and funding volatility.
Innovation in Proteomics
Finally, the episode spotlighted Nomic Bio’s launch of the Omni 1000, a breakthrough platform for high-plex proteomics (5). With the ability to quantify 1,000 proteins at just $50 per sample, the technology promises to democratize large-scale proteomic studies. “Pairing plasma proteomics with health outcomes at scale has the potential to revolutionize the way we treat patients,” said Allie Greenplate, PhD, the director of Strategic Alliance and Operations for Immune Health at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.
Watch the full episode above for more insights into the evolving biopharma landscape, and catch up on previous episodes of Behind the Headlines here.
References:
Sanofi to acquire Blueprint Medicines, expanding portfolio in rare immunological disease and adding early-stage pipeline in immunology. Sanofi. Press release. June 2, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/06/02/3091538/0/en/Press-Release-Sanofi-to-acquire-Blueprint-Medicines-expanding-portfolio-in-rare-immunological-disease-and-adding-early-stage-pipeline-in-immunology.html
Lilly to expand its pain pipeline with acquisition of SiteOne Therapeutics. Eli Lilly. Press release. May 27, 2025. https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-expand-its-pain-pipeline-acquisition-siteone-therapeutics
GSK to acquireefimosfermin, a phase III-ready potential best-in-class specialty medicine to treat and prevent progression of steatotic liver disease (SLD). Boston Pharmaceuticals. Press release. May 14, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513598541/en/GSK-to-acquire-efimosfermin-a-phase-III-ready-potential-best-in-class-specialty-medicine-to-treat-and-prevent-progression-of-steatotic-liver-disease-SLD
Moderna Announces Update on Investigational Pandemic Influenza Program. Moderna. Press release. May 28, 2025. https://investors.modernatx.com/news/news-details/2025/Moderna-Announces-Update-on-Investigational-Pandemic-Influenza-Program-/default.aspx
Nomic Bio Debuts $50 Proteome with Absolute Quantification Through Launch of Omni 1000. Nomic Bio. Press release. May 13, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513956212/en/Nomic-Bio-Debuts-$50-Proteome-with-Absolute-Quantification-Through-Launch-of-Omni-1000
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