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Merck & Co. Plans Multi-Billion Dollar Savings Program, Eliminating 6,000 Jobs

US pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. has announced a comprehensive austerity program to achieve annual savings of three billion US dollars (approx. 2.6 billion euros) by the end of 2027. As part of these measures, around 6,000 jobs in administration, sales, and research are to be cut, as the company announced in Rahway. In addition, adjustments to real estate presence and the production network are planned. The savings are to be reinvested in the development of new drugs and growth areas to drive the company's strategic realignment. The program is driven by several challenges: Revenue in the second quarter of 2025 fell by two percent to 15.8 billion US dollars, thus missing analyst expectations of 15.89 billion US dollars. Profit fell from 5.8 to 5.4 billion US dollars, although adjusted earnings per share of 2.13 US dollars exceeded forecasts (2.01 US dollars). A 55 percent drop in sales of the HPV vaccine Gardasil to 1.1... 

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Moderna plans $1.5 billion in savings and cuts 10 percent of its workforce

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US biotechnology company Moderna has announced a comprehensive austerity program that is expected to achieve savings of $1.5 billion by 2026. As part of these measures, the company plans to cut about ten percent of its workforce. The decision follows a lowered revenue forecast for 2025 of $1.5 to $2.5 billion, compared to a previous estimate of $2.5 to $3.5 billion, due to declining sales of the COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax and weak demand for the RSV vaccine. Cost reductions include a 20 percent cut in research and development spending to $16 billion for 2025 to 2028. In addition, certain drug developments will be discontinued or paused. Moderna continues to focus on its mRNA technology and aims for up to ten new product approvals by 2027, including a combination vaccine against COVID-19 and flu. The company's stock fell on the NASDAQ after the announcement of the austerity program and the lowered forecast… 

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New Fraunhofer method reduces radiation exposure in breast and lung cancer diagnostics

An innovative procedure from the Fraunhofer project "Multi-Med" combines X-ray and radar technology to make the diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy of breast and lung cancer more precise and with less radiation. Imaging methods such as mammography or computed tomography (CT) are essential, but expose patients to X-rays – a breast CT corresponds to about three times the natural annual radiation exposure of 2.1 millisieverts. The new procedure uses radar, which provides three-dimensional images without health risks and detects tissue changes through differences in electrical permittivity. The challenge lies in linking the measurement data from X-ray and radar, which is solved by special co-registration methods. New radar reconstruction algorithms improve image quality, while radar data optimizes X-ray CT reconstruction to reduce artifacts and lower radiation dose. Initial tests with measurement phantoms simulating tissue structures show promising results. The three-year project, funded by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, is led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT), with participation from the institutes MEVIS… 

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German Cancer Aid records 181 million euros in donations in its anniversary year 2024

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German Cancer Aid achieved revenues of around 181 million euros in its anniversary year 2024, thereby funding 164 new projects and initiatives. These include innovative research projects, awareness campaigns, and the expansion of counseling services. Dr. Franz Kohlhuber, Chairman of the Board, emphasized that the public's trust over the past 50 years has been the foundation for these successes. The 2024 Annual Report provides insights into the organization's diverse activities. A focus is on supporting Centers of Excellence in Oncology (Comprehensive Cancer Centers, CCCs) at 26 university locations, which provide top-level care for cancer patients and conduct pioneering research. The "ONCOnnect" program, launched in 2023, strengthens the networking of these centers with regional hospitals and practices. In 2024, the funding program "Models for Optimized Decentralized Oncological Care" was also initiated with 12 million euros, supporting five networks to improve care through collaborations with general practitioners or digital networking. A new service is the… 

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Federal Court of Justice examines advertising practices of foreign drug mail-order companies

The 1st Civil Senate of the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) again dealt with the permissibility of advertising measures by foreign mail-order pharmacies. The focus was on discounts, vouchers, and bonuses that a Dutch distributor used between 2013 and 2015, including hotel vouchers and ADAC memberships for customer acquisition. The North Rhine Pharmacists' Association (AKNR) had obtained several preliminary injunctions against this. The hearing showed the complexity of the issue, as national law, EU law, and previous rulings by the BGH and the European Court of Justice (ECJ) had to be considered. Presiding Judge Prof. Dr. Thomas Koch emphasized that such advertising practices could improperly influence consumers. The Senate indicated that it would likely uphold four of the five disputed advertising bans, while the distributor attempted to clarify the fundamental permissibility of price advertising under ECJ law. However, the BGH referred to already established case law without signaling any willingness to change. The originally demanded 18 million euros in damages seemed off the table; instead, the distributor was concerned with the… 

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BPI establishes expert working group on radiopharmaceuticals to promote innovative cancer therapies

The German Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (BPI) has launched a new expert working group on radiopharmaceuticals to provide a specialized forum for manufacturers of radiopharmaceuticals. Dr. Kai Joachimsen, CEO of the BPI, emphasized the importance of radiopharmaceuticals as a dynamic field in oncology and the need to further develop regulatory frameworks. The working group aims to pool the expertise of companies such as Curium, GE Healthcare, Novartis, and Rotop to contribute to the professional and political dialogue. After a one-year preparatory process, Magnus Fischer, Senior Manager Public Affairs Radioligand Therapies at Novartis Pharma GmbH, was elected chairman of the working group. He pointed out the specific challenges faced by radiopharmaceutical manufacturers and stressed the need for structured exchange with political and regulatory decision-makers at national and European levels. The goal is to promote medical innovations for the benefit of patients. The working group plans to address the regulatory, scientific, and healthcare policy specificities of… 

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FDA expands approval for Novartis drug Leqvio for cholesterol lowering

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approval of Novartis' cholesterol-lowering drug Leqvio (Inclisiran). The preparation can now be used as monotherapy – meaning without additional statin therapy – in combination with diet and exercise to lower harmful LDL cholesterol levels in adults with hypercholesterolemia. The decision is based on extensive data on the efficacy of PCSK9-inhibiting therapies in LDL reduction. The expanded indication is intended to allow patients to be treated with an effective option earlier in their treatment to reduce the risk of heart disease. Leqvio is injected twice a year, after an initial dose and another after three months, which is intended to promote adherence and facilitate long-term control of LDL cholesterol. This is particularly relevant as up to 80 percent of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in the US do not reach the recommended LDL target levels below 70 mg/dL. The...

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FDA approves expanded use of Alhemo for hemophilia patients without inhibitors

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approval of the drug Alhemo (Concizumab-mtci). It can now be used as a daily prophylactic treatment to prevent or reduce bleeding episodes in adults and children aged 12 and older with hemophilia A or B without inhibitors. This was announced by the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. The decision is based on data from a Phase 3 study that showed a significant reduction in the annual bleeding rate. Alhemo was already approved in December 2024 for patients with hemophilia A or B and inhibitors. With the new expanded indication, a subcutaneous injection option is now available for a broader patient group, who previously often relied on intravenous infusions. The preparation is offered in pre-filled pens and is intended to improve blood clotting by blocking a protein called Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor (TFPI). This increases thrombin production, which helps with bleeding in the absence of or with defects in clotting factors VIII or IX...

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The world must unite to stop Trump's tariff madness

EDITORIAL. The latest escalation of US tariff policy under President Donald Trump threatens the global economy with a trade war that destroys supply chains, endangers jobs, and drives up living costs worldwide. Trump's announcement to impose 30 percent tariffs on imports from the European Union (EU) starting in August 2025 – although a compromise of 15 percent was recently agreed upon – shows that his policy is not only protectionist but also erratic and destabilizing. To end this tariff madness, the world must act in unison. In particular, the EU and the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) have the economic and geopolitical clout to put pressure on the USA. Only through coordinated measures can the global trading order be saved and a precedent be set that prevents future unilateral aggressions. Why Trump's tariffs threaten the world Trump's tariff policy is not an isolated phenomenon but part of an "America First" strategy that aims to...

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Gene variant with opposing effects in men and women discovered

Cincinnati, July 9, 2025 – A research team at Cincinnati Children's Hospital has identified a gene variant (rs6190) that has opposing health effects in men and women. The findings were published on July 9, 2025, in Science Advances and in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. In men, the rs6190 variant promotes muscle building, increases insulin sensitivity, and lowers the risk of diabetes. Studies in mice and data from the UK Biobank and the All of Us database show that men with this variant have leaner bodies, lower BMI, and greater muscle strength. The genes Foxc1 and Arid5A play a key role by improving glucose and fat metabolism. In women, however, the same variant increases cholesterol levels and the risk of clogged arteries. In the liver, rs6190 leads to reduced activity of the genes Pcsk9 and Bhlhe40, which in female mice and women...

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