Pharmaceutical Technology Is Now PharmTech: A Sharper Name for a Smarter Industry

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Behind the Headlines Episode 28

Ask the Expert

Outsourcing Partnerships Fuel Global Biopharma Discovery and Scale-Up

Drug Digest February 2026 

How It Helps Avoid Facility and Equipment Problems

A “Plan, Prevent, Prove” Approach

Interpack 2026 Preview | Image Courtesy of groninger


This year’s Interpack meeting arrives on May 7, 2026, in Düsseldorf, Germany, with some of the biggest manufacturers in the EU presenting their upcoming innovations. This year's exhibition includes a range of technology areas based around development and manufacturing operations. Modular packaging lines for parenteral and solid-dose products, automated carton handling, and precision counting equipment will be on display from the Uhlmann Group.

 Filling and closing systems for liquid pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare products, alongside digital process monitoring tools, will be presented by groninger.

 Labeling materials and application technology for pharmaceutical and hazardous goods applications, including tamper-evident and variable-data solutions, will be covered by HERMA.

What Does Increasing Complexity in Pharmaceutical Packaging Require?

For Uhlmann Group, the answer involves positioning its member companies as a coordinated portfolio rather than a set of independent equipment vendors.

"As a group, we combine technologies, expertise, and experience to provide expert consulting and pioneering, modular solutions, thereby actively driving change in the packaging ecosystem." said Prof. Dr. Matthias Niemeyer, CEO, The Uhlmann Group, in a press release.

Uhlmann Pac-Systeme's exhibit centers on two lines with direct relevance to parenteral and solid-dose packaging.

 The PTC 200 is a modular solution for packaging parenteral products in carton mono-packages; the BEC 500 combines a blister machine and cartoner in a single unit. Both are designed for flexibility across packaging materials. Visitors can explore these lines through a digital presentation, including three-dimensional visualizations and an interactive holowall display that walks through line functions and process steps.

Groninger approaches the complexity question through a different lens: the formulation itself.

 Throat sprays without preservatives, eye drops with modified viscosities, novel topical creams, each one introduces new demands on filling processes. Batch sizes are contracting, changeovers are accelerating, and hygiene requirements are stricter.

"Our customers operate in markets that have become significantly faster and more complex, while quality requirements continue to rise," says Otto Helmle, vice president sales consumer Healthcare and Cosmetics, Groninger, said in a press release.

"With flexcare, we rely on a platform concept that combines stable processes and high precision with the ability to react quickly and flexibly to new demands." The flexcare platform's modular design allows a wide range of viscosities to be processed reliably, with retrofit options intended to protect longer-term capital investment.

For labeling operations, Sven Pleier, Key Account Manager, HERMA, said in a press release,

 "Today, labels have to do far more than simply convey information. What is needed are solutions that save material and costs, can be sourced flexibly and at the same time reliably meet even demanding requirements in terms of durability, safety and variable marking."

How Are Digitalization and Material Sustainability Shaping Equipment Decisions?

On the digital side, groninger's VisionX Pink platform is designed to make machine data transparent and enable early detection of process deviations.

 Real-time data availability and process capability supports analysis, and an integrated dashcam function allows video-based fault diagnosis.

"Digitalization must never be an end in itself," Frieder Kanitz, CEO, Groninger, stated in the press release.

 "It has to support the people at the machine — through transparency, better decision-making and access to relevant knowledge."

On materials, KOCH Pac-Systeme is introducing a new folding carton module for its KMO platform that uses a horizontal cartoning process with side product insertion for fully automated handling.

 Folding cartons are gaining ground in part because of their recyclability and material efficiency, and in part because of evolving European packaging regulations. The KMO's standardized modular interfaces mean the machine can be adapted to new material requirements without full line replacement.

Goldfuss Automation’s fully automated feeder with an integrated collaborative robot retrieves pre-packaged blanks from the pallet, opens shipping cartons, and loads blanks directly into a cartoning machine's magazine.

 The system can manage the complete material flow through to the removal of empty cartons and interlayers, reducing manual handling in packaging areas where contamination control, ergonomics, or labor efficiency are concerns.

In labeling, HERMA's focus is on linerless label materials, including InNo-Liner, which requires neither silicone nor liner and has been validated in logistics applications where it reduced waste by approximately 60% and cut costs relative to conventional systems.

 The pharma-specific exhibit covers film-based labels that can be variably printed using ultraviolet lasers, creating permanent, smudge-proof, and disinfectant-resistant marks without ink or ribbons.

"What is always crucial is the interaction of material, adhesive, printing process and reliable application in the line," noted Marc Trapp, Head of Sales Industrial Labels, HERMA, in the press release.

Uhlmann Group Holding GmbH & Co. KG. Interpack 2026: One Group. One Responsibility: Uhlmann Group showcases integrated solutions for complex packaging requirements. Press release. April 8, 2026.

groninger & co. gmbh. Filling Processes in Transition: How groninger Keeps Sensitive Products Under Control. Press release. April 14, 2026. 

HERMA GmbH. HERMA label solutions at interpack 2026: Labels for growing demands. Press release. Filderstadt, Germany; April 2026.

Articles

Interpack 2026 in Düsseldorf will spotlight EU packaging innovation spanning parenteral and solid-dose lines, liquid filling/closing, and advanced labeling. Uhlmann emphasizes an integrated group portfolio with modular parenteral cartoning and combined blister–cartoner systems, supported by digital line visualization. groninger frames complexity through sensitive formulations, smaller batches, faster changeovers, and heightened hygiene, addressed via the modular flexcare platform and VisionX Pink transparency tools. HERMA prioritizes durability, safety, variable marking, and waste reduction through linerless materials and laser-enabled, disinfectant-resistant printing.

Interpack 2026 previews filling, labeling, and packaging equipment from Uhlmann Group, groninger, and HERMA designed for pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Must-see Exhibits at Interpack 2026

Christopher Lewis, Emoja Biopharma, sat down with 

 to discuss how AI is reshaping quality management, workforce development, and data utilization in the pharmaceutical industry.

Check out the 2-part video Interview with Lewis:

How AI Is Transforming Biopharma Quality and Compliance

AI Tools That Drive Competency in Complex Pharma Environments

PharmTech: How Do You Think About the Risks of Implementing AI in Biopharma?

Lewis: It really comes down to risk management and balance. You have to weigh the capabilities and capacity that AI brings against the need to keep humans meaningfully involved throughout the process — not just at the end, but at every step. That means integrating human oversight from a conceptual standpoint, through qualification and validation, and all the way into day-to-day use. When you have a human in the loop at each of those stages, you end up with a balanced, risk-based approach that's appropriate for the environment we operate in.

How Do You Measure Whether AI Tools Are Delivering Value in Quality Operations?

There are a few key metrics I'd focus on. First, cycle time. How long does it take to work through an investigation? That's a meaningful indicator of whether these tools are creating real efficiency. Second, hands-on time. Is automation freeing people up, or are they spending just as many hours on these tasks as before? And third, recurrence rates. Are we seeing the same issues and deviations come back around? I'd expect those numbers to go up initially, because AI is likely to surface repeat issues that may have slipped past human reviewers. But over time, as we use that information to get to true root cause, those rates should come down. That downward trend is where you really see the value.

What Other AI Applications in Pharma Have Caught Your Attention?

A few things stand out. The first is learning and performance. Our industry has long been stuck in a model where you generate hundreds of documents and expect people to read them and absorb everything, and that's just not how people learn effectively. AI offers a way to build competency models that are tailored to the individual, the task, or the complexity of the work. In a dynamic environment where people aren't doing the same thing every day, that kind of personalized, point-of-task support is valuable.

The second is predictive analytics, using AI to continuously monitor process performance data and get ahead of problems before they become problems. And the third, is automation of repetitive tasks. We have a lot of highly skilled people in this industry spending significant time on low-complexity, repetitive work. That kind of work can breed complacency, and complacency leads to mistakes. If we can use AI to handle that, we free those people up to apply their expertise where it matters.

What Emerging AI Opportunity Excites You Most?

It’s utilizing data. Pharma has never had a problem generating data. The challenge has always been extracting it and making sense of it in a way that drives real decisions. Whether it's process monitoring, product quality, stability profiles, or risk assessment, the data is already there. What AI gives us is the ability to use it, to pull it together across systems and get meaningful, actionable insights out of it. We've put enormous time and effort into collecting this data. Now we finally have tools that can help us put it to work.

AI adoption in biopharma quality hinges on balanced, risk-based implementation with continuous human-in-the-loop oversight spanning concept, qualification/validation, and routine use. Value should be demonstrated via operational metrics: investigation cycle time, hands-on effort, and deviation recurrence trends—recognizing recurrence may rise initially as repeat issues are surfaced, then fall with true root-cause resolution. High-impact use cases include AI-enabled competency models and point-of-task performance support, predictive analytics for early signal detection, and automation of low-complexity repetitive work. The largest opportunity is converting abundant, siloed data into actionable cross-system insights for quality and risk decisions.

Christopher Lewis, Emoja Biopharma, shares how AI is reshaping pharma through smarter oversight, personalized training, and actionable data insights.

The Three Ways AI Is Transforming Pharma Quality Management

Paul Smaltz, Senior Vice President of BASF Pharma Solutions, details how the company acts as a strategic partner to the pharmaceutical industry by integrating AI-driven formulation tools, sustainability initiatives, and specialized biopharmaceutical solutions to overcome modern manufacturing challenges. 

Beyond the Excipient: Drug Formulation from Discovery Through Commercialization

As the pharmaceutical landscape shifts toward asset-light models and increased outsourcing, BASF is evolving beyond its role as a traditional excipient manufacturer to provide deep technical expertise and R&D support. Through the implementation of generative AI and the ZoomLab® predictive modeling tool, BASF is helping customers accelerate formulation timelines and solve complex bioavailability issues with unprecedented precision. Smaltz also discusses the BASF commitment to "green transformation," pointing to the company’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 while delivering high-performance and sustainable solutions for the growing biopharmaceutical market.

Videos

Paul Smaltz, Senior Vice President of BASF Pharma Solutions, explains how the company acts as a strategic partner to the pharmaceutical industry by integrating AI-driven formulation tools, sustainability initiatives, and specialized biopharmaceutical solutions to overcome modern manufacturing challenges. 

Joerg Ahlgrimm, CEO of SK pharmteco, outlines the company's strategic expansion into cell and gene therapy while detailing their commitment to global operational excellence and a culture of employee purpose.

SK pharmteco’s Three-Business-Unit Strategy: Small Molecules, Peptides, and Viral Vectors

SK pharmteco is doubling down on its growth by injecting $100 million into its cell and gene therapy division to complement its established strengths in small molecules and peptides. CEO Joerg Ahlgrimm stresses that the company’s competitive edge lies not just in its global manufacturing footprint across the US, Europe, and Asia, but in a decentralized culture that empowers frontline employees to connect their daily work directly to patient outcomes. Looking toward the next decade, the discussion explores how the integration of AI and a shift toward regionalized supply chains will redefine the CDMO landscape, positioning the firm as a multi-modal leader in an increasingly complex market.

Joerg Ahlgrimm, CEO of SK pharmteco, outlines the company's strategic expansion into cell and gene therapy. He also details their commitment to global operational excellence and a culture of employee purpose.

Christopher Lewis, Emoja Biopharma, explores how AI is revolutionizing pharma training, predicting process issues, and unlocking the value of existing data.

, Christopher Lewis, Emoja Biopharma and president of the Mountain States PDA Chapter, reflects on three transformative ways in which AI is beginning to reshape how pharmaceutical companies operate, from workforce training to predictive analytics and smarter use of existing data.

Lewis challenges a deeply ingrained industry habit: the reliance on document-heavy training models. "Our industry in the past has gotten really stuck in how we handle learning and performance, and we've gotten really stuck in this model of you generate hundreds of documents and expect people to read it and understand everything," he says. In its place, he sees AI enabling personalized, task-specific competency development that meets people where they are, accounting for learning styles, complexity, and the realities of dynamic work environments where no two days are the same.

Beyond training, Lewis highlights AI's potential as a predictive tool, one that continuously monitors process performance data to flag issues before they escalate. This connects directly to his third point regarding AI: the opportunity to automate repetitive, low-value tasks that currently consume the time of highly skilled professionals. When talented people are bogged down in routine work, complacency sets in and mistakes follow, he notes, adding that AI can change that equation.

Lewis zeroes in on a long-standing industry paradox around data. "The issue has never been how much can we generate the data. We've always been really good at generating all the data," he says. "The challenge has always been getting the data out and looking at the data in a really meaningful way to draw meaningful conclusions." For Lewis, AI finally offers a path to unlocking the value already sitting inside pharma's vast data ecosystems across QC testing, supply chains, product stability, and risk assessment, and using it to drive quality and compliance forward proactively.

On April 13, 2026, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Telix Pharmaceuticals announced a collaboration, sharing profit and costs 50/50, to develop and commercialize 

 The agreement brings these organizations’ two distinct capability sets together: Regeneron's antibody discovery platforms and clinical oncology portfolio and Telix's radiopharmaceutical development infrastructure, manufacturing capabilities, and global supply chain.

This deal reflects a broader industry pattern of established biologics companies entering the radiopharmaceutical space by partnering with organizations that have already solved the hard manufacturing and logistics problems that make radiopharmaceuticals operationally complex.

Under the terms, Telix will receive an upfront payment of $40 million for access to its radiopharmaceutical manufacturing platform covering four initial therapeutic programs.

 Regeneron holds the option to expand to four additional programs, each carrying additional upfront payments. If Telix opts out of co-funding for any individual program, it becomes eligible instead for up to $535 million in development and commercial milestones per program, plus low double-digit royalties on net sales. The agreement has a potential aggregate milestone value of $2.1 billion across all programs.

The initial programs will draw on antibodies generated from Regeneron's VelocImmune platform, which produces fully human antibodies and bispecific antibodies.

 Alongside therapeutics, the collaboration includes development of radio-diagnostic assets to support patient selection and treatment response monitoring, with Telix leading commercialization of those diagnostics and Regeneron receiving a share of profits.

Why Does the Manufacturing Dimension Matter Here?

Radiopharmaceuticals present manufacturing and supply chain challenges that differ substantially from conventional biologics.

 Short isotope half-lives, radiation handling requirements, specialized logistics, and the need for geographically distributed production all create operational complexity that has historically limited the number of companies able to scale in this space. Telix has built infrastructure specifically around these constraints, as it has operations stationed in every major continent relevant to the industry. This infrastructure is a central part of what Regeneron is accessing through this agreement.

"Telix brings deep expertise in radiopharmaceutical development and infrastructure that complements Regeneron's antibody technologies and oncology portfolio," said Israel Lowy, senior vice president, Regeneron, in a press release.

 "Regeneron is excited to enter the targeted radiopharmaceuticals space and explore the utility of these agents either as monotherapy or rationally combined with our immunotherapy platform, particularly in areas of high unmet patient need such as lung cancer, where our PD-1 inhibitor is a global standard of care."

The collaboration is also notable for its explicit intention to combine radiopharmaceuticals with immunotherapy.

 This is an area of active investigation in the field, but one that introduces additional complexity in trial design, manufacturing coordination, and regulatory strategy. Many coordination challenges come with aligning two distinct modality supply chains for clinical use.

John Lin, senior vice president of Oncology and Antibody Technology Research, Regeneron, stated in the press release,

 "At Regeneron, we follow the science to determine the best therapeutic approach for each disease, continuously expanding our toolbox of treatment modalities — from monoclonal and bispecific antibodies to cell therapies and beyond. Targeted radiopharmaceuticals represent a rapidly emerging frontier in oncology and an exciting opportunity to bring new treatment options to patients in need."

What Does This Signal for the Radiopharmaceutical Field?

The structure of this agreement, a large biologics company paying for access to a specialist's manufacturing platform rather than acquiring it whole, may be instructive for how the radiopharmaceutical sector develops.

 Rather than consolidation through acquisition, this model preserves the operational independence of a manufacturing-capable partner while giving a larger company a path into the modality without a years-long internal build.

Christian Behrenbruch, managing director and group chief executive, Telix, said in the press release,

"The collaboration with Regeneron reflects a highly complementary set of capabilities and a unique opportunity to explore what true 'next gen' biologics-based radiopharmaceuticals can potentially do for patients. We are well positioned to work toward the shared goal of advancing next-generation precision radiopharmaceuticals for patients with hard-to-treat cancers."

What Makes Radiopharmaceuticals Worth the Complexity?

The appeal of radiopharmaceuticals to large pharmaceutical companies goes beyond pipeline diversification.

 Unlike conventional cancer drugs, which must enter a cell and remain inside long enough to cause damage, a process cancer cells can defeat by developing efflux mechanisms, radiopharmaceuticals do not strictly require cellular internalization to be effective. Once a radiopharmaceutical binds to a cancer cell, radioactive decay releases energy that damages the DNA of surrounding cells, killing anywhere from 10 to 30 neighboring cells per molecule. That bystander effect is difficult to replicate with other modalities.

The diagnostic dimension adds another layer of strategic value.

 Because imaging compounds and therapeutic compounds can share the same targeting molecule, physicians can use a diagnostic scan to predict whether a therapeutic will reach its target before treatment begins. This built-in patient selection tool is one that most oncology modalities lack entirely.

Radiopharmaceuticals also show early promise in combination with immunotherapy, precisely the area where Regeneron has existing commercial infrastructure. Radiation-induced cancer cell death can release proteins that alert immune cells to the presence of tumor cells elsewhere in the body, potentially converting immunotherapy-resistant tumors into responsive ones.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited Announce Strategic Radiopharma Collaboration. Press Release. Published April 13, 2026. 

https://investor.regeneron.com/news-releases/news-release-details/regeneron-and-telix-announce-strategic-radiopharma-collaboration

National Cancer Institute. Radiopharmaceuticals Emerging as New Cancer Therapy. Cancer Currents. Published October 25, 2020. 

https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2020/radiopharmaceuticals-cancer-radiation-therapy

Regeneron and Telix formed a 50/50 profit-and-cost collaboration to advance radiopharmaceutical therapeutics across multiple solid-tumor targets, pairing VelocImmune-derived antibodies with Telix’s radiopharma manufacturing and global distribution infrastructure. Telix receives a $40 million upfront for four initial programs, with options for four more; opt-out provisions convert participation into sizable milestones and royalties. The deal underscores manufacturing and logistics as gating capabilities in radiopharma and highlights planned radiopharma–immunotherapy combinations alongside companion diagnostics for patient selection and response monitoring.

Regeneron and Telix announce a 50/50 radiopharma collaboration, combining antibody expertise with specialized manufacturing to develop next-generation cancer therapies.

A $2.1 Billion Radiopharmaceutical Collaboration, Explained

Cheryl Barton is director of PharmaVision, 

Human heart. 3D illustration on a medical background | Image Credit: ©Siarhei - stock.adobe.com

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), and peripheral artery disease (PAD), are a leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for approximately 32% of global deaths each year.

 Over the past decade, improved understanding of the physiological and molecular pathology of the cardiovascular system has enabled research to target the cardio-immune and cardiometabolic systems, leading to the development of novel cell and gene therapies aimed at enhancing cardiac regeneration (

). These therapies include proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, which can be combined with approved treatments to reduce cardiovascular events and mortality significantly.

 Increasingly, companies are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to improve diagnosis, personalize treatments, and enhance patient outcomes in CVDs.

For example, France-based Owkin has partnered with Amgen to use AI to improve cardiovascular risk predictions and with Bristol Myers Squibb to identify biomarkers that support cardiovascular drug development programmes.

 In May 2024, AstraZeneca collaborated with UK-based BenevolentAI to identify novel targets for heart failure.

 Novel Cardiovascular Targets in Clinical Development. siRNA is small interfering RNA. Modified from Reference 7. FIgure courtesy of the author.

What CVD Therapies Are the Pharma Industry Investing In?

Large pharmaceutical companies have made several strategic acquisitions and collaborations in the CVD arena in recent years. In May 2024, Novo Nordisk acquired the German-based Cardior Pharmaceuticals to expand its cardiometabolic franchise and gain access to its CDR1321, a microRNA-132 inhibitor for the treatment of heart failure. Novo has also partnered with Denmark-based Ascendis Pharma A/S to evaluate its long-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)/peptide prodrug platform in cardiometabolic disease.

 In June 2025, Eli Lilly acquired US-based Verve Therapeutics for $1 billion to gain access to VERVE-102, a gene-editing medicine targeting PCSK9 for individuals with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).

Amgen is collaborating with Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals to develop olpasiran for CVD associated with elevated lipoproteins.

In March 2026, Roche entered into a collaboration with Denmark-based Zealand Pharma to evaluate petrelintide, an amylin receptor agonist, in Phase 2 for cardiometabolic disease.

 In 2024, Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 receptor agonist Ozempic/Wegovy (semaglutide) received a label expansion supporting the reduction of major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and obese adults.

What Are Some European Players to Watch Out for in the CVD Space?

Several European biotechs are evaluating novel cardiometabolic and cardio-regenerative agents in clinical trials (

 European Biotechs Developing Cardiometabolic and Precision Cardiology Therapeutics

isa start-up that leverages its PULSE, a multi-omic data and computational platform, to develop first-in-class cardiovascular therapies.

In October 2025, it teamed up with the German-based innoVitro to look beyond beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to identify novel targets for treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM); the project is funded by Innovate UK and ZIM.

 CardiacTec Bio has completed Seed and Series A funding, raising US$6.5 million from 7 investors, including 3 partner investors: Montage Ventures, Panacea Capital, and Laidlaw Scholars Ventures.

 It is currently focusing on atherosclerosis, heart failure, and cardiovascular inflammation. 

is a cell therapy companydeveloping CellProthera, an autologous 34+ stem cell therapy for patients with heart failure post-myocardial infarction. The company plans to initiate a 400-patient phase III study in the United States and Europe in the first quarter of 2027.

The treatment is administered via a transendocardial catheter directly to the site of action. In February 2026, the company partnered with the contract development and manufacturing organization CELLforCURE to support its clinical trial programme. 

has developed a CVD drug discovery engine that integrates multi-omics approaches, which can be combined with its induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based high-resolution atlas of human cardiac tissue to identify novel biomarkers and advance precision medicine.

 In May 2024, Evotec partnered with Bayer to develop precision cardiology therapeutics.

 Evotec’s iCM Heart Repair programme, in collaboration with the Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf “UKE,” aims to develop a first-class, non-immunogenic allogeneic iCM for heart failure treatment.

is a biotech company developing precision RNA-guided, genome-targeting therapeutics that reprogram disease-driving cell states for rare, common, chronic, and age-related diseases. Its lead program, Wisper/HTX-001, targeted non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

In May 2025, it raised US$65 million in a Series A funding round. Led by Sofinnova Partners and Ealybird Venture Capital, Eli Lilly and Company, ATHOS, +ND Capital, Alexandria Venture Investments, and LifeLink Ventures. 

, founded in 2021, is an innovative tech company developing next-generation heart failure therapies using its Cardioid Drug Discovery Platform. The company received €4.5 million (US$5.25 million) in pre-series A funding from AWS Gründungsfonds II, i&i Biotech Fund, Invest AG, red-stars.com data AG, and Tensor Ventures Fund to advance the development of its organoid screening platform.

 In September 2025, Boehringer Ingelheim entered into an agreement with HeartBeat.bio to develop gene therapy for genetic cardiomyopathies.

 HeartBeat.bio’s Cardioid Drug Discovery Platform uses chamber-like cardiac organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells iPSCs to mimic key features of inherited heart diseases. On July 7, 2025, the company and biotx.ai GmbH entered into a strategic partnership to identify and validate novel therapeutic targets for heart failure.

is a global stem cell biotechnology company dedicated to engineering bioartificial human heart surrogates through bioengineering. Novoheart’s mini-Heart Platform consists of 3 advanced engineered-tissue formats fabricated from human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, designed to assess specific cardiac functional outputs to support product selection and development. It also provides third parties with a “Heart-In-A-Jar” platform that can provide clinically informative evaluations of human cardiac pump performance.

is pioneering a next-generation RNA technology called Axiomer, which uses a cell’s own editing machinery, ADAR, to make specific single-nucleotide edits in RNA to reverse a mutation or modulate protein expression. This technology could potentially yield a new class of medicines for both rare and prevalent diseases with unmet need. It has developed a portfolio of products, including AX-1412 targeting B4GALT, AX-1005 for cardiovascular diseases, and AX-0601 for cardiometabolic diseases. In 2021, the company signed a global licensing and research collaboration with Eli Lilly to develop novel Axiomer RNA therapies to treat genetic disorders.

 is a global clinical-stage biotechnology company that has leveraged its messenger RNA interference (mRNAi) GOLD platform to develop innovative small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that precisely target and silence disease-associated genes to treat cardiovascular disease, haematology, and rare diseases. The company has completed a phase 3 trial with zerlasiran in cardiovascular diseases and is also developing divesiran in phase 2 for polycythaemia vera. It is co-developing SLN312, which silences angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3), with AstraZeneca for the treatment of dyslipidemia, and has several other siRNAs in preclinical development to treat obesity and manage cholesterol.

 is a biotechnology company focused on advancing medicines for obesity and metabolic health by leveraging AI/ML technologies. In December 2025, Zealand signed a US$2.5 billion oral cardiometabolic deal with OTR Therapeutics to leverage OTR's oral small-molecule platform to Develop Novel Therapeutics for multiple targets in cardiometabolic diseases.

Zealand Pharma's pipeline includes the amylin analogue petrelintide, which is in phase 2 clinical
trials, in development with Roche, and the glucagon/GLP-receptor dual agonist survodutide, which is in phase 3 development with Boehringer Ingelheim.

 In March 2026, it established a US research hub in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to expand its drug discovery capabilities.

Over the past few years, significant progress has been made in targeting cardiometabolic and cardioimmune processes. Currently, European biotechs are shifting their focus towards developing next-generation cardiometabolic therapies and precision cardio therapeutics based on cell and gene therapies that address the root causes of CVDs. The cardiovascular drugs market is expected to be worth US$153.7 billion in 2024. It is anticipated to grow from US$157.8 billion in 2025 to US$214.9 billion in 2034, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.5% during this period.

 Increased investment by the pharmaceutical industry in developing innovative drug therapies will drive future growth. Large pharma companies such as Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Roche have undertaken strategic acquisitions to access late-stage products and established partnerships to license early-stage products to enhance their cardiometabolic inflammatory portfolios. This business approach is likely to persist in the near future as high-risk, high-reward precision cardiology therapies targeting significant unmet needs progress through clinical development.

. WHO.int. July 31, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2026. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds)

Kishimoto S, Higashi Y. Recent advances and emerging perspectives in vascular and cardiovascular research: A 2025 update. 

Singh R, et al. Emerging therapeutic strategies in cardiovascular diseases. 

Owkin and Amgen use AI to improve cardiovascular risk prediction.

Owkin announces a multi-year strategic clinical data science collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb

BenevolentAI announces further success in its collaboration with AstraZeneca, with a novel Heart Failure target selected.

Singh, R.; et al. Emerging Therapeutic Strategies in Cardiovascular Diseases. 

Novo Nordisk to acquire Cardior Pharmaceuticals and strengthen its position

Ascendis Pharma and Novo Nordisk Sign Collaboration for Development and Commercialization of TransCon Technology-based Products in Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease.

Lilly to acquire Verve Therapeutics to advance one-time treatments for people with high cardiovascular risk

 Accessed Apr. 8, 2026. https://arrowheadpharma.com/en-us/areas-of-focus/cardiovascular-disease#pipelines

Roche enters into an exclusive collaboration & licensing agreement with Zealand Pharma to co-develop and co-commercialise petrelintide as a potential foundational therapy for people with overweight and obesity.

FDA approves first treatment to reduce risk of serious heart problems specifically in adults with obesity or overweight

Drug Discovery Computational Biology Multiomics Activity

. Accessed April 8, 2026. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cardiatec_drugdiscovery-computationalbiology-multiomics-activity-7429442142563057664-14gt/

Innovate UK Grant Funding Cardiovascular Research Activity

. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cardiatec_innovateuk-grantfunding-cardiovascularresearch-activity-7366009084778561536-8arG/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAD2aSyIBRGvUbSSze2Mhyk2FhBnaVIdcpsQ Accessed April 8, 2026.

It's all about timing. CellProthera CEO talks CDMO partnership with CELLforCURE.

. February 9, 2026. https://www.cellprothera.com/en/its-all-about-timing-cellprothera-ceo-talks-cdmo-partnership-with-cellforcure/

Cellprothera sets the scene for phase III stem cell therapy trial.

. Accessed April 8, 2026. https://www.evotec.com/solutions/therapeutic-areas/cardiovascular-disease

Bayer and Evotec link to develop cardiology therapeutics

. https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/bayer-evotec-cardiology-therapeutics/?cf-view May 1, 2024.

Revolutionizing heart failure therapy with iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (iCM)

. Evotec Blog. November 27 2024. Accessed April 8, 2026. https://www.evotec.com/sciencepool/revolutionizing-heart-failure-therapy-with-ipsc-derived-cardiomyocytes-icm

HAYA Therapeutics raises $65 million in Series A funding.

 Accessed April 8, 2026. May 8, 2025.https://www.hayatx.com/haya-therapeutics-raises-65-million/

 Accessed April 8, 2026. https://www.hayatx.com/pipeline/.

HeartBeat.bio raises € 4.5 million in Pre-Series A financing to drive development of organoid screening platform for cardiac drug discovery.

 Press Release. November 2, 2023. Accessed April 8, 2026 https://www.heartbeat.bio/press-releases/heartbeat-bio-raises-eu-4-5-million-in-pre-series-a-financing-to-drive-development-of-organoid-screening-platform-for-cardiac-drug-discovery

Heartbeat Bio. HeartBeat.bio joins forces with Boehringer Ingelheim to advance gene therapies for inherited heart muscle disorders. Press Release. September 23, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2026 

https://www.heartbeat.bio/press-releases/heartbeat-bio-joins-forces-with-boehringer-ingelheim-to-advance-gene-therapies-for-inherited-heart-muscle-disorders

Heartbeat Bio. HeartBeat.bio AG and biotx.ai GmbH today announced a strategic partnership to identify and validate novel therapeutic targets in heart failure

. Press Release. July 7, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2026 https://www.heartbeat.bio/press-releases/heartbeat-bio-and-biotx-ai-sign-license-and-technology-access-agreement-to-identify-novel-targets-in-heart-failure

Human Heart in a Jar - Accelerate Your Science. 

Accessed April 8, 2026. https://www.novoheart.com/human-heart-in-a-jar

. Accessed April 8, 2026. https://www.proqr.com/pipeline

Silence Therapeutics Highlights Recent Business Achievements and Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results

. Press Release. March 5, 2026. Accessed April 8, 2026. https://silence-therapeutics.com/investors/press-releases/press-releases-details/2026/Silence-Therapeutics-Highlights-Recent-Business-Achievements-and-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2025-Financial-Results/default.aspx

Zealand Pharma & OTR Therapeutics partner in $2.5B metabolic drug deal

. December 16, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2026. https://www.towardshealthcare.com/news/zealand-pharma-otr-therapeutics-partnership-weight-management

Roche expands GLP-1 cardiometabolic portfolio with Zealand Pharma collaboration

. Marcb 12, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2026. https://www.manufacturingchemist.com/roche-zealand-pharma-cardiometabolic-disease-partnership

Boehringer Ingelheim. Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand Pharma Advance Dual-Acting GLP-1/glucagon Agonist BI 456906 to Phase 2 Clinical Testing in Obesity/Diabetes.

https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/us/media/press-releases/boehringer-ingelheim-and-zealand-pharma-advance-dual-acting-glp-1-glucagon-agonist-bi-456906-phase-2

Zealand Pharma establihes U.S. research hub in Cambridge.

 Press Release. March 24, 2026. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/03/24/3261434/0/en/Zealand-Pharma-Establishes-U-S-Research-Hub-in-Cambridge-Massachusetts-to-Expand-Drug-Discovery-Capabilities-and-Accelerate-Medicine-Creation.html

Cardiovascular drugs market size & share, growth trends 2034

. April 2025. Accessed Apr. 8, 2026. https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/cardiovascular-drugs-market

Cheryl Barton, PhD, is founder and director of PharmaVision, Pharmavision.co.uk.

Cardiovascular diseases drive ~32% of global mortality, catalyzing investment in cardiometabolic and cardio-immune mechanisms, regenerative cell therapies, and gene/RNA modalities. PCSK9 and SGLT2 inhibition, alongside GLP-1–based agents, are being extended to reduce major cardiovascular events. AI-enabled partnerships are accelerating risk prediction, biomarker discovery, and target identification in heart failure. Recent M&A and collaborations span microRNA-132 inhibition, PCSK9 gene editing, Lp(a) lowering, and amylin agonism. Market projections anticipate growth to ~$215B by 2034, sustaining partnering strategies.

European Biotechs are utilizing AI and precision medicines to improve the personalized treatment of cardiovascular disease.

European Biotechs Developing Next-Generation of Cardiometabolic and Precision Cardiology Therapeutics

Senior Director
Education, Outreach, and Digital Experience
Open Biopharma Research and Training Institute

In this clip from episode 1 of Manufacturing Intelligence, Richard Jaenisch of Open Biopharma discusses step 1 in adopting AI in pharma manufacturing.

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