PharmTech Weekly News Roundup — Week of October 6, 2025

In this PharmTech video feature, we highlight the week’s industry news in an easy-to-consume, fun format. New roundups will drop every Friday, so be sure to come back each week.

Collectively, the week’s coverage discusses the pharmaceutical industry’s recent developments and current regulatory landscape. Read on for recaps of each story we’ve covered.

What’s Reasonable to Expect from Agentic AI in Pharma? Part Three

In the final installment of this series comes an explanation for how agentic AI, featuring autonomous reasoning and adaptive decision-making, offers significant potential for transformation across data-rich pharmaceutical R&D workflows. Successful deployment demands strategic governance that balances compliance with sufficient agent autonomy to foster innovation and cross-discipline collaboration.

Building in Flexibility and Commercial Viability Early in CGT Scaling

The cell and gene therapy (CGT) sector must adopt a "CGT 2.0" paradigm, integrating simultaneous flexibility and scalability to resolve manufacturing bottlenecks and improve patient access. Early prioritization of chemistry, manufacturing, and controls, and leveraging automation and data analytics, are vital for reducing process variability and ensuring commercial viability.

AstraZeneca’s US Expansion Highlights AI, Automation, and Policy Pressure

AstraZeneca is investing $4.5 billion in a new facility in Virginia to produce drug substance for its metabolic and antibody-drug conjugate cancer portfolios. The site plans to utilize AI, automation, and data analytics to optimize production processes to become operational by 2030.

Collaborating on the Development of Radiopharmaceuticals

Medicines Discovery Catapult and Crown Bioscience created an integrated preclinical platform to accelerate the development of radiopharmaceuticals for targeted cancer treatment. This partnership combines radiochemistry, imaging, and oncology models to generate translational data and de-risk assets for clinical entry.

Schreiner MediPharm Launching RFID-Embedded Label at CPHI Frankfurt

Schreiner MediPharm launched a “Cap-Lock” label for prefilled syringes integrating radio frequency identification technology for enhanced container integrity and digital tracking. The embedded chip enables automated tracking of integrity and expiry, supporting regulatory requirements for supply chain security.

DemeRx’s Neuroplastogen Candidate Signals New Alcohol Use Disorder Approach

DemeRx received a $1.7 million National Institutes of Health grant to advance DMX-1001 (noribogaine) toward Phase II clinical trials for alcohol use disorder. This neuroplastogen aims to reduce cravings and promote neuroplasticity by targeting multiple central nervous system areas.

RedHill's $1.8M Middle East Deal Signals Global Demand for Effective H. pylori Treatment

RedHill secured a licensing deal for Talicia, its FDA-approved oral therapy, targeting H. pylori infection in new Middle East markets. Talicia is the only FDA-approved therapy addressing rising antibiotic resistance in the bacteria, a major gastric cancer risk factor.