STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Novartis acquisition, Republicans backing clinical trial diversity, and more

STAT PlusNewsletterPharmalot Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Novartis acquisition, Republicans backing clinical trial diversity, and more First clinical trial to test treatments against the Ebola Bundibugyo virus has started Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Andrew JosephJuly 6, 2026 Europe Correspondent Andrew Joseph[email protected]Andrew covers the biopharma industry, scientific research, and public health across the continent. You can reach Andrew confidentially on Signal at drewqjoseph.71. Good morning, and welcome to a new week from STAT’s London outpost, with Andrew Joseph here filling in for Mr. Pharmalot. This country is celebrating its World Cup win last night (or rather, very early this morning local time — lots of bleary-eyed people out in the neighborhood today), and I can only hope that the U.S. will be in the same place tomorrow. Yet the World Cup (and Wimbledon) can’t completely distract from the news of the day, so onto the headlines we go. … Novartis is pushing deeper into antibody-drug conjugate development, paying $1.1 billion upfront to buy Myricx Bio for a pipeline based on a novel payload, Fierce Biotech writes. The Swiss pharma company has been slower to buy into ADCs than some of its peers, but it’s made its move with London-based Myricx, which is designing cancer treatments that deliver N-myristoyltransferase inhibitor (NMTi) payloads. It’s a bit of a different approach from other ADCs, which Novartis predicts could tackle resistance and other limitations of existing payloads, broadening the use of ADCs across multiple tumor types. Advertisement While clinical trials got caught up in the Trump administration’s attack on policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, congressional Republicans would like to change that, STAT says. Last month, the Republican-controlled House passed a bill, mostly along party lines, to fund the Food and Drug Administration that was accompanied by a report that, while not legally binding, tells agency officials what congressional appropriators expected of them. The report states that it wants the FDA to continue implementing a law that requires companies to give the FDA their plans for diversifying clinical trials. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In pharmalittle, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Andrew Joseph Europe Correspondent Andrew covers the biopharma industry, scientific research, and public health across the continent. You can reach Andrew confidentially on Signal at drewqjoseph.71. Newsletter Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day Recommended Pharmalot July 2, 2026 STAT Plus: Lawmakers urge HHS to force Eli Lilly to provide 340B drug discounts to hospitals Pharmalot July 2, 2026 STAT Plus: Up and down the ladder: The latest comings and goings Advertisement Pharmalot July 2, 2026 STAT Plus: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a court win for Amgen, Novo seeking supplier discounts, and more Pharmalot July 2, 2026 STAT Plus: U.S. judge blocks Colorado’s first-of-its-kind price cap on an Amgen drug Pharmalot July 1, 2026 STAT Plus: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Anthropic drug development goals, Trump drug plan snags, and more Subscriber Picks