A shock for Marburg: The biopharmaceutical company CSL Behring has announced it will close its Research and Development (R&D) department at the Marburg site. Around 500 employees are now worried about their jobs. The decision not only raises questions about the future of the affected employees but also about the strategic direction of a company that had only opened a state-of-the-art R&D center in the university town in 2022 with great media attention. The closure is considered a "heavy blow" to the region, while details about the process, timeline, and solutions for employees remain unclear. A setback after millions in investment The news came as a surprise to many. Just three years ago, in September 2022, CSL Behring inaugurated a new research and development center in Marburg with an investment volume of 150 million euros. The 40,000-square-meter center offered space for up to 500 R&D employees and was described as the "world's largest R&D center of... 

Ingelheim, July 4, 2025 – Since January 2025, Dr. Markus Wagner has been at the helm of Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the largest family-owned pharmaceutical companies worldwide. The 52-year-old biochemist, who previously served as Chief Scientific Officer at Novartis, has quickly established himself as a visionary yet pragmatic leader. But how does the new CEO tick, and what does his leadership mean for the future of the group? In an environment where the pharmaceutical industry is under pressure to innovate, Wagner is praised for his unconventional approach – and viewed critically. His plans are met with enthusiasm, but also with reservations, not least because of the political framework conditions in Germany. Wagner, born in Munich, brings an impressive resume. After studying biochemistry at LMU Munich and earning a doctorate in molecular biology, he held various leadership positions at Novartis, where he oversaw the development of several blockbuster drugs such as Entresto for heart failure… 

Darmstadt, July 4, 2025 – German pharmaceutical and chemical company Merck KGaA has completed the largest pharmaceutical deal in almost two decades by acquiring the US biotech company SpringWorks Therapeutics for around 3 billion euros. The acquisition, completed on July 1, 2025, is expected to strengthen Merck's position in the lucrative market for cancer drugs. But the takeover raises questions: Is it a strategic move or a desperate attempt to close gaps in its own research? Critics see the deal as an admission that Merck's internal innovation power has stagnated in recent years. SpringWorks Therapeutics, a Stamford, Connecticut-based company, specializes in targeted cancer therapies, particularly for rare tumor diseases. With the acquisition, Merck is securing promising active ingredients such as Nirogacestat, a drug for the treatment of desmoid tumors, which has already received approval in the US. "This step accelerates the sustainable growth of our healthcare business," explained Merck…