Here are the latest stories being discussed in biopharma today:

‘If you could have the next Prozac, that’s intoxicating’: Sage’s postpartum depression triumph and the failure that followed

Sage Therapeutics recently launched Zuranolone, a pill-form follow-up to an experimental drug that made a profound impact on a patient suffering from postpartum depression in a 2015 trial. This launch represents a scientific and medical advancement after years of developments and false starts. The drug mimics a hormone that naturally rises during pregnancy and plummets after delivery, promising to massively benefit afflicted women. However, following this success, Sage made the decision to pursue major depression as a potentially more lucrative indication, affecting a much larger population.

Allogene Therapeutics plans restructuring as it swaps out PhII CAR-T trial plans to leapfrog rivals

Allogene Therapeutics has announced plans to change clinical plans for its off-the-shelf CAR-T therapies. The company will deprioritize two of its current Phase II trials and initiate a new late-stage study with a different design to leapfrog its competitors. This move will result in a “planned restructuring” expected to extend Allogene’s runway into 2026. While promising, analysts also note potential challenges associated with this new approach.

Merck CEO indicates interest in GLP-1 combination therapies, may pursue deals

In the light of increasing excitement about GLP-1 combination therapies for a range of conditions, Merck CEO Rob Davis has signaled his company’s interest in this drug class. Seeking regimens that offer cardiovascular and diabetes outcome improvements as well as weight loss, Davis said he sees opportunities both internally and through business development.

Novartis adds Indianapolis site to its manufacturing capacity for radioligand drug Pluvicto

Novartis has received FDA approval to manufacture its radiopharmaceutical Pluvicto at a new facility in Indianapolis. The 70,000-square-foot facility is specifically designed for radioligand therapy production, and the inclusion of fully automated lines in its future plans proves promising for addressing burgeoning demand.

Psychedelic-assisted drug developer MAPS PBC nabs $100M, renames to Lykos Therapeutics

MAPS Public Benefit Corporation, a Californian biotech working on bringing MDMA-assisted therapy to market for mental health conditions, has raised over $100 million in Series A funding. The company, which has also changed its name to Lykos Therapeutics, recently submitted its drug for FDA approval, marking a potential new chapter for the psychedelics-focused movement in biotech.