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A New Type of ADHD Drug Just Hit Its FDA Deadline. The Silence Is Deafening.
Otsuka's centanafadine reached its FDA decision date on July 24, and neither the company nor the agency has said a word. If approved, it would be the first triple reuptake inhibitor for ADHD, targeting norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin simultaneously. That serotonin component is genuinely new territory for ADHD treatment. Four Phase 3 trials showed significant symptom improvement across kids, teens, and adults, and a separate trial demonstrated anxiety benefits too. The drug earned priority review, which the FDA reserves for meaningful advances over existing options.
Why it matters: For the 22 million Americans with ADHD, the medicine cabinet has been stuck on stimulants and a couple of weak non-stimulant alternatives for decades. A non-stimulant that actually hits dopamine, adds serotonin into the mix, and carries low abuse potential could reshape how clinicians think about treating the condition, especially for patients who can't tolerate stimulants or have comorbid anxiety.
Read more →Science & Discovery
What If You Could Stop Cancer Before It Actually Becomes Cancer?
A Dana-Farber trial gave a single CAR-T infusion to 20 patients with high-risk smoldering myeloma (a precursor to cancer), and every single one hit the deepest level of disease clearance. None have progressed to active cancer after 15 months of follow-up. It's a tiny sample, and the therapy costs upward of $500,000 per patient, but the concept is radical: deploying CAR-T before cancer fully arrives rather than as a last resort.
Read more →Deals & Layoffs
Genentech Cuts 103 Scientists, Then Signs a $490 Million Deal the Same Week
Genentech shuttered two legendary research teams (including a group led by a 29-year veteran) while simultaneously signing a $490 million breast cancer collaboration with Astex Pharmaceuticals. It's the clearest example yet of big pharma's new playbook: shrink internal R&D, buy external innovation. The company has now cut over 1,000 positions since early 2024, and total headcount dropped meaningfully in 2024 before stabilizing in 2025.
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