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Top 20 R&D Spending Biopharma Companies of 2026 

Shots:   Merck & Co., Roche, and Johnson & Johnson emerged as the leading pharmaceutical companies by R&D expenditure in 2025, investing $15.78B, $15.49B, and $14.66B, respectively. Continued investments in late-stage clinical programs, pipeline expansion, advanced technologies, and strategic business development reinforced their commitment to driving pharmaceutical innovation  Global biopharmaceutical R&D investment continues to accelerate as…

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Kelun Biotech

Kelun-Biotech Reports P-III Trial Findings on sac-TMT + Keytruda for 1L PD-L1-Negative Non-Squamous NSCLC

Shots: Kelun-Biotech has reported P-III (OptiTROP-Lung06) trial data assessing sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT/SKB264/MK-2870) + Keytruda vs CT + Keytruda as the 1L treatment for PD-L1-negative locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC (TPS <1%) IDMC has concluded that the trial met its 1EP of improved PFS at interim analysis vs Keytruda + pemetrexed & Pt-based CT, plus…

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Merck, Astellas and Pfizer Report the US FDA Approval of Perioperative Padcev + Keytruda for Cisplatin-Eligible MIBC Patients

Shots: The US FDA has approved Padcev (enfortumab vedotin) + Keytruda/Keytruda Qlex for neoadj. & adj. treatment for pts with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), regardless of cisplatin eligibility Approval was supported by the P-III (EV-304/KEYNOTE-B15) trial assessing neoadj. Padcev + Keytruda, followed by surgery & then adj. Keytruda + Padcev vs neoadj. SoC + surgery in cisplatin-eligible MIBC…

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Merck

Merck Receives EC Approval for Perioperative Padcev + Keytruda for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC)

Shots: The EC has approved Padcev (enfortumab vedotin) + Keytruda for neoadj. & adj. treatment for cisplatin-ineligible pts with resectable MIBC across all 30 EEA states Approval was based on the P-III (KEYNOTE-905/EV-303) trial, which randomized cisplatin-ineligible MIBC pts to Arm A (neoadj. & adj. Keytruda), Arm B (surgery alone), or Arm C (neoadj. & adj. Keytruda + Padcev)…

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Merck

The US FDA Expands Merck’s Capvaxive Use to Children and Adolescents Aged 2-17 at Increased Risk for Pneumococcal Disease

Shots: The US FDA has expanded the indication for Capvaxive to incl. pts aged 2–17yrs. with certain chronic medical conditions who have completed a primary pediatric pneumococcal vaccination series & remain at increased risk of pneumococcal disease Approval was supported by P-III (STRIDE-13) trial data, which compared Capvaxive with PPSV23 in the above-mentioned pts Capvaxive…

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Protillion Biosciences and Merck Enter ~$510M Drug Discovery Collaboration

Shots: Protillion has entered into a multi-target discovery collaboration & license agreement with Merck, integrating Protillion’s Prot-MaP technology with Merck’s global expertise in the discovery of novel therapeutic candidates As per the deal, Protillion will receive an undisclosed upfront payment & ~$510M in research, development, & commercial milestone payments for the successful development of multiple…

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Merck new

Merck Reports FDA Approval of Keytruda/Keytruda QLEX + Welireg in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Shots: The US FDA has approved MSD's Welireg + Keytruda/Keytruda QLEX as adj. therapy in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) pts at intermediate-high or high risk of recurrencepost-nephrectomy or post-nephrectomy & resection of metastatic lesions Approval was backed by the P-III (LITESPARK-022) trial data assessing Keytruda (400mg, Q6W, IV) + Welireg (120mg, QD, PO)…

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