Eli Lilly to merge U.S. and international units after exec retirement; Novartis records $1.9B impairment on failed Avidity drug

Eli Lilly announced that its U.S. and international divisions will be combined into a single unit called "Lilly Global Markets" after the retirement of long‑time executive Patrik Jonsson at the end of 2026. Jonsson, who spent 36 years at the company, will be succeeded in the new structure by Ilya Yuffa, the firm’s executive vice president for global customer capabilities.

The reorganization is intended to speed up decision‑making, improve scalability and expand global access to Lilly medicines, according to the company. The move consolidates leadership and aligns the business under a unified market strategy.

Separately, Novartis disclosed a $1.9 billion impairment charge linked to an experimental drug acquired in its $12 billion purchase of Avidity Biosciences. The drug failed a late‑stage trial in August, prompting the write‑off.

In other news, Astellas Pharma reported progress toward what it describes as a "best‑in‑class" cancer immunotherapy candidate, though details were limited in the roundup.