Here are the latest stories being discussed in biopharma today:

J&J engages in $3B transactions under the radar and plans Carvykti manufacture scale-up

In 2023, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) acquired $3 billion worth of assets in more than 50 minor licensing partnerships and deals that align with its portfolio, centering on antibody-drug conjugates and CAR-T therapies, despite too little media coverage. Meanwhile, significant advancements have taken place in the manufacturing of Carvykti, a CAR-T therapy created with Legend Biotech. J&J is readying for growth in 2024.

Eli Lilly’s potential gene therapy helps an 11-year-old hear

An 11-year-old boy subjected to Eli Lilly’s experimental gene therapy has shown signs of restored hearing. The therapy, known as AK-OTOF, delivers a functional copy of a gene called otoferlin which when absent, prevents auditory signals received by the ear from being transmitted to the brain.

Lawmakers band together against pharma patent thickets

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has proposed legislation to limit patent thickets, which are a collection of patents covering a single product, to mediate the entry of generics and biosimilars into the market.

Gilead’s $247M HIV drug Settlement deal confirmed

A nearly $247 million settlement plan to resolve allegations that Gilead Sciences wrongly blocked generic HIV drugs from entering the market has been approved by a California federal judge.

Turquoise Health acquires $30M for AI-powered healthcare pricing

Turquoise Health has procured $30 million for the development of artificial intelligence (AI) to sort through its data, helping users compare the cost of treatments at different hospitals.