Behind the Headlines Episode 26: Clinical Advances, Weight-Loss Deals, and Swiss Startup Strength

Behind the Headlines bi-weekly episodes examine the ongoing trends, factors and fashions that cause pharmaceutical news to happen. Panelists are a mix of consultants, venture capitalists, scientists, patient advocates, journalists and editors. Each episode talks about the current headlines of the preceding weeks that are on everyone’s lips but seeks to highlight the more enduring lessons that hide behind these headlines.

In Episode 26, Sirpa Tsimal, Global Marketing Director, Switzerland Global Enterprise; Philip Just Larsen, MD, PhD, CEO, Six Peaks Bio; and Stephan Emmerth, Director of Business Development & Operations, BaseLaunch, take a close look at recent clinical trial progress, including Bristol Myers Squibb’s successful phase 3 results for relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (1) and Roche’s evERA study on advanced breast cancer (2), alongside Eli Lilly and Company's oral treatment for ESR1-mutated breast cancer (3) and Merck 's FDA approval for subcutaneous keytruda delivery (4).

Because of its very clear importance to Scandinavian countries, this all Swiss-based panel also examined the reasons behind Pfizer’s Metsera acquisition for $4.9Billion (5), a key move to re-shape the weight loss drug landscape, once again.

The panel also discussed what makes for a great set of accelerator business conditions for life sciences and scores Switzerland’s performance for several of the most important factors determining successful outcomes for the life science industry, most especially as they relate to innovative young companies, as well as the university systems that feed them, alongside the big pharma companies that help sustain the momentum being built.

References

1. Bristol Myers Squibb. Bristol Myers Squibb Announces Phase 3 EXCALIBER-RRMM Study Evaluating Iberdomide in Combination with Standard Therapies Demonstrated a Significant Improvement in Minimal Residual Disease Negativity Rates in Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma. Press Release. Sept 23, 2025.
2. Roche. Positive Phase III Results Show Roche’s Giredestrant Significantly Improved Progression-free Survival in ER-positive Advanced Breast Cancer. Press Release. September 21, 2025.
3. Eli Lilly and Company. U.S. FDA Approves Inluriyo (Imlunestrant) for Adults with ER+, HER2-, ESR1-mutated Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer. Press Release. Sept 25, 2025.
4. FDA. FDA Approves Pembrolizumab and Berahyaluronidase Alfa-pmph for Subcutaneous Injection. FDA Announcement. Sept 19, 2025.
5. Pfizer. Pfizer to Acquire Metsera and its Next-Generation Obesity Portfolio. Press Release. Sept 22, 2025.