Here are the latest stories being discussed in biopharma today:

Merck Lookout for New Immunology Deals, GSK to Buy Asthma Biotech Aiolos Bio for $1.4B

Merck’s chief medical officer, Eliav Barr, announced the company’s plans to expand its immunology pipeline through additional deals, with a particular focus on cardiometabolic drugs and immunology.

Meanwhile, GSK has committed to buying clinical-stage asthma drugmaker Aiolos Bio for $1.4B. The deal marks one of the fastest startup unveiling-to-buyout journeys in biotech history. Aiolos Bio emerged just three months ago backed by several high-profile investors, and now faces a rapid acquisition.

Novartis CEO Downplays Cytokinetics Buyout Rumors

Novartis CEO, Vas Narasimhan, subdued rumors about a possible acquisition of the biotech company Cytokinetics during a CNBC interview. Despite ongoing speculation of a buyout, Narasimhan emphasized Novartis’ focus on smaller, “sub-$5 billion assets.”

Lantheus Invests $28M in Perspective Therapeutics to Expand Radiopharma

Radiopharma company Lantheus has entered into a collaboration with Perspective Therapeutics, handing over $28M upfront to secure an exclusive licensing deal for an alpha-targeted therapy for neuroendocrine tumors.