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Ben Hargreaves

Ben Hargreaves

Freelance writer

Ben Hargreaves is a freelance science journalist based in Tosse, France. Reach him on LinkedIn.

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Drug Delivery
Explainer: The Thriving Shadow Market of GLP-1s for Weight Loss
Compounding pharmacies aren’t the only makers of off-brand versions of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound. The situation is causing the FDA regulatory headaches and, more seriously, posing potential risks to the public.
February 11, 2025
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5 min read
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Ben Hargreaves
Pictured: FDA headquarters with money and pill bottles
FDA
What Trump’s Second Term Could Mean for PDUFA’s Future
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.—Trump’s pick for HHS secretary who endured confirmation hearings last week—has repeatedly criticized industry ties to the FDA, particularly financial links between the two, which could indicate trouble for the user-fee model.
February 3, 2025
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4 min read
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Ben Hargreaves
Financier with a stack of coins in his hands. Art collage.
Venture capitalists
2024’s Top 7 VC Raises in Biotech
BioSpace recaps 2024’s top venture capital rounds in biopharma, from Xaira Therapeutics’ blockbuster $1B raise to back-to-back series from obesity-focused Metsera that totaled more than $500M in a space that has garnered more than a fivefold increase in VC dollars this year.
January 15, 2025
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7 min read
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Ben Hargreaves
Vector Illustration of pharmacy drug health tablet pharmaceutical, Realistic pills blister pack medical tabs. Eps 10 Vector.
Policy
Pushback Against IRA’s Controversial ‘Pill Penalty’ Faces Stiff Budgetary Headwinds
The EPIC Act has been proposed with bipartisan and industry support to give small molecule drugs the same protection against price negotiation as biologics, but concerns over how to balance the federal budget could prevent a short-term fix to the IRA.
December 11, 2024
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5 min read
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Ben Hargreaves
United States Supreme Court Building in Washington DC, USA.
Drug shortages
Legal Challenge Over Lilly’s GLP-1 Shortages Highlights FDA’s Post-Chevron Vulnerability
Currently, Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide) are not on the FDA’s shortage list but compounded pharmacies are still making them. That’s unprecedented.
November 26, 2024
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4 min read
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Ben Hargreaves
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Manufacturing
Novo-Catalent Deal Represents ‘Defining Moment’ for CDMO Sector
Novo Holdings’ acquisition of Catalent has ignited concerns from industry stakeholders, who fear that the consolidation could limit competition, but there is also the possibility that the deal could represent an opportunity for smaller-scale CDMOs to find new partners.
November 13, 2024
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4 min read
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Ben Hargreaves
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BIOSECURE Act
WuXi Biologics Faces Uncertain Future in the U.S. After BIOSECURE Blow
WuXi AppTec looks to unload its Philadelphia manufacturing sites and WuXi Biologics slows its rapid expansion in the U.S. as the companies await the Senate’s review of the BIOSECURE Act that threatens to cut them off from U.S. biopharma.
October 8, 2024
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5 min read
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Ben Hargreaves
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Deals
Royalty Financing Serves as Lifeline for Some Biopharma Companies in Uncertain Market
As traditional fundraising methods falter for smaller firms, the rise of royalty deals is reshaping how companies access capital, offering an alternative that bypasses equity dilution and debt.
October 2, 2024
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5 min read
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Ben Hargreaves
Messenger RNA or mRNA strand 3D rendering illustration with copy space. Genetics, science, medical research, genome replication concepts.
Vaccines
5 Late-Stage mRNA Vaccines to Watch
The potential of mRNA vaccines was established during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, a new wave of candidates could soon hit the market for cancer, influenza and more.
September 16, 2024
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5 min read
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Ben Hargreaves
Hand holding an antimicrobial test over a vivid green background
Drug Development
Why Is Antimicrobial Resistance Not Getting Much Attention from Biopharma?
Investment in the development of new antimicrobials is falling rapidly, even as the global public health threat of antimicrobial resistance is growing increasingly severe worldwide.
July 10, 2024
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5 min read
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Ben Hargreaves
Pictured: An hourglass connected by strands of DNA
Business
Exsilio Launches With $82M to Tackle Gene Therapy Challenges in Novel Approach
Exsilio Therapeutics emerged from stealth on Tuesday with a platform that leverages mRNA technology to develop redosable genomic medicines for a range of complex diseases.
June 25, 2024
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4 min read
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Ben Hargreaves
Pictured: Collage of papers, time, and money
Policy
How Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb and Johnson & Johnson Are Confronting Patent Cliffs
The pharma industry is staring down the barrel of a widespread loss of exclusivity, with more than 190 products going off-patent between 2022 and 2030. Here are some strategies company are employing to manage the drop in revenue.
June 20, 2024
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5 min read
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Ben Hargreaves
AI Enables Individualized Cancer Vaccines
The use of artificial intelligence in the development of cancer vaccines allows for individualized therapy, but the prospect of an ever-changing product poses new challenges for drug developers and regulators.
June 10, 2024
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5 min read
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Ben Hargreaves
Pictured: Collage of money and golden bull and bear
Business
Winners and Losers in Biopharma’s Q1 2024 Earnings Season
The weight-loss drug bonanza continued in the first quarter of 2024 for Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, as Amgen also posted strong results, while Biogen and BMS struggled early in the financial year.
May 15, 2024
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5 min read
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Ben Hargreaves
Pictured: A collage of vaccines and cancer cells/
Drug Development
Could Cancer Vaccines Be the Next Big Breakthrough in Immunotherapy?
The race is on to develop therapeutic cancer vaccines that could give immunotherapies an edge, and late-stage trials could soon provide more-robust data about candidates’ efficacy and safety.
May 2, 2024
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5 min read
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Ben Hargreaves
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