The latest news from German pharma, including looming drug pricing reform, Boehringer Ingelheim’s EUR 640 million acquisition of a Kyowa Kirin autoimmune drug, and BioNTech’s updated revenue guidance. Also covered are Merck KGaA’s tie-up with JSR Life Sciences for its chromatography business, Bayer’s 12,000 layoffs, and STADA’s potential IPO.
Germany plans national drug pricing reform to tackle exploding costs (Euractiv, paywalled)
Many experts warn that the healthcare system will be overwhelmed if the current system remains in place
German firm Boehringer Ingelheim has licensed a pre-clinical programme from Japan’s Kyowa Kirin to develop a potential first-in-class, small molecule for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
BioNTech lifts 2025 revenue guidance on BMS partnership payment (Reuters)
Germany’s BioNTech on Monday lifted its 2025 revenue guidance after receiving initial payments from its new partner Bristol Myers Squibb in a cancer immunotherapy alliance that seeks to challenge Merck’s best-selling Keytruda.
BioNTech, Pfizer’s partner on COVID-19 vaccines, said it was projecting full-year revenue of 2.6 billion euros ($3.03 billion) to 2.8 billion euros, up from a previous guidance range of 1.7 billion to 2.2 billion euros.
Merck to Acquire the Chromatography Business of JSR Life Sciences (company website)
Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire the chromatography business of JSR Life Sciences, a leader in contract development and manufacturing, preclinical and translational clinical research, and bioprocessing solutions.
The acquisition will expand Merck’s downstream processing portfolio with advanced Protein A chromatography capabilities, supporting more efficient and scalable production of biopharmaceutical therapies, including monoclonal antibodies. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
Bayer’s layoff count now at 12,000-plus as its fortunes begin to turn (Fierce Pharma)
When Bayer CEO Bill Anderson launched his Dynamic Shared Ownership (DSO) layoff plan—designed to save 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) in 2026—he said it would be completed by the “end of 2025 at the latest.”
Two years into his tenure, Bayer has reduced its head count by more than 12,000, with little slowdown in the pace of dismissals. Last year at this time, the company reported that it had cut its roster by 5.4% over the previous 12 months. Wednesday, in reporting its second-quarter results, Bayer revealed that it has slashed its workforce by 7.3% over the last 12 months.
German generics maker Stada eyes fall IPO, CEO says: report (Fierce Pharma)
It appears an IPO is back on the table for German generics maker Stada.
The company is “preparing an IPO in the autumn, provided the general conditions are right,” CEO Peter Goldschmidt told German news agency dpa, as quoted by Reuters.
