Senior reporter covering neuroscience, M&A and cutting-edge drug technologies for @biopharmadive. Formerly @TheStreet, @educationweek, @mcclatchydc.
Washington, DC
Joined December 2011
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In case you missed it, our latest feature takes a deep dive into a very interesting area of drug research: ion channels. These proteins made $VRTX one of the world's wealthiest biotechs. Now others are getting in on the action. #biotech #science #biopharma biopharmadive.com/news/ion-c…
Jacob Bell retweeted
Helen Branswell, STAT's infectious disease reporter who earned the respect of experts and public health officials with her accessible, prescient dispatches, has died at age 69. trib.al/3bBswKg
Jacob Bell retweeted
This week in charts: RA’s insatiable appetite, Novartis’ big slide and a reverse merger spree biopharmadive.com/news/biote… by @realJacobBell
Jacob Bell retweeted
A booming business on Wall Street would love more biotechs to quietly die biopharmadive.com/news/biote… by @realJacobBell
In the law firms and investment banks that broker some of the world’s biggest biotechnology deals, a not-so-savory word is being thrown around behind closed doors.
Shells.
With billions of dollars of business on the line, dealmakers are fervently searching for shells that would be good candidates for reverse mergers. Some say there are early signs demand might outstrip the supply.
In a deep dive published today, we explore what’s fueling this boom and how long it might last. Ft. insights from @Stifel; @gibsondunn; @CooleyLLP; @LeerinkPartners; @gilmartinir; @RaymondJames biopharmadive.com/news/biote…
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New: 3 charts illustrating biotech's resurgence in 2026, by @realJacobBell $XBI
This week in charts: Biotech’s rebound is undeniable biopharmadive.com/news/biote…
Today, we rolled out the first installment of a series where we use data visualization to recap what’s going on across the biopharma industry. This week we’re looking at upswings in biotech M&A and IPOs, and how those are affecting a major stock index. biopharmadive.com/news/biote…
Jacob Bell retweeted
"Maybe this is what all biotech companies are going to be in the future."
Here's @realJacobBell on the debut, and ambitions, of
Michael Polansky's new, skin-focused #biotech. biopharmadive.com/news/outer…
Jacob Bell retweeted
Heidi Overton has been named the new FDA commissioner, according to Bloomberg’s @rachelcohrs
Jacob Bell retweeted
PCAC votes on whether to include the peptide KPV on the FDA's bulks list for 503A compounding:
Free base form
YES - 8
NO - 6
ABSTAIN - 1
Acetate form
YES - 8
NO - 6
ABSTAIN - 1
There's a clear fault line among adcomm members. (But note there's a new member for KPV vote.)
Jacob Bell retweeted
Vertex was sole bidder in high-premium Crinetics acquisition biopharmadive.com/news/verte… by @realJacobBell $VRTX $CRNX
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New, from @realJacobBell: To Wall Street, psychedelics biotechs are more teammates than rivals biopharmadive.com/news/psych… $CMPX $HELP $GHRS $ATAI $DFTX + 22%
Jacob Bell retweeted
FDA has now published this RFI, which describes a planned pilot to improve IND submission quality by identifying a network of 'qualified research institutions' to partner w/ sponsors.
FDA also aims to explore rolling IND submissions, per notice.
public-inspection.federalreg…
FDA appears to be considering an "expedited investigational new drug pilot program," per this request for information that's now under White House review: reginfo.gov/public/do/eoDeta…
"Longevity is emerging as the next chapter in the consumerization of health care" according to a research new note from analysts at TD Cowen.
The investment bank estimates that, in longevity, the total addressable market is worth more than $250B and populated with >50 private companies plus a growing list of public ones. These companies are "enabled by advances in AI, biological breakthroughs, policies and more."