Welcome to the Weekly Rundown where the DDN editors cover this week’s top biotech and pharma news.
Federal agencies lose thousands of PhD scientists in workforce exodus
Approximately 10,109 doctoral-trained scientists and experts in STEM and health fields left federal positions in 2025 as the Trump administration dramatically reduced the size of the government workforce, according to data from the White House Office of Personnel Management. While some attrition occurred in 2024 under President Biden, the scale of losses last year was unprecedented, with STEM departures tripling in 2025. Across 14 major research agencies examined by Science, departures outnumbered new hires by a ratio of 11 to one, resulting in a net loss of 4,224 STEM PhDs. The National Institutes of Health saw the largest number of departures, rising from 421 in 2024 to over 1,100 in 2025, while the National Science Foundation lost 205 PhDs, or 40 percent of its pre-Trump workforce. Other agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the US Forest Service, also saw substantial reductions in highly trained staff. Most departures were not forced; retirements, resignations, and the elimination of rotator positions — short-term appointments for academics — drove the exodus, leaving agencies with fewer experts and diminishing institutional knowledge. – Bree Foster
Alzheimer Europe report estimates a 64 percent increase in dementia by 2050
On Wednesday, Alzheimer Europe published their “The Prevalence of Dementia in Europe 2025” report, in which it is predicted that by 2050 there will be 19,905,856 people living with dementia, which is a 64 percent increase from the 12,122,979 people living with dementia in EU27 countries and non-EU countries, combined, in 2025. When compared to their previous 2019 report, the prevalence rates for 2025 (actual) and 2050 (estimate) were fairly consistent. However, the prevalence rates in 2025, among men in particular, in the 70–74 range were higher than the 2019 prevalence. In fact, men in all age ranges above 70 years old had higher prevalence rates than in 2019. These statistics reinforce the notion that decision-makers must ensure that policy and research agendas reflect the growing number of people living with dementia in the coming years through capacity, infrastructure, and budget. “The scale of the challenge posed by dementia across Europe is substantial and it is our sincere hope that our updated figures provide the impetus for decision-makers, both at the European and national levels, to prioritise dementia and ensure it is addressed across the domains of health, research, disability policy, and support for informal carers,” commented Alzheimer Europe’s Executive Director, Jean Georges. – Melissa Kay
Researchers identify key brain region linked to bipolar disorder
Researchers in Japan have identified a central brain region linked to bipolar disorder, offering a potential new target for diagnosis and treatment. The study published in Nature Communications by a team at Juntendo University used single-nucleus RNA sequencing to analyze postmortem brains of patients with bipolar disorder, revealing significant alterations in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT). The region showed around a 50 percent reduction in neuron numbers and downregulation of genes involved in synaptic function and ion channel activity, suggesting disrupted neural communication and plasticity. These changes were more pronounced than in the cortex, highlighting the PVT as a critical hub in the disorder. The findings could pave the way for more precise diagnostics and therapies with fewer side effects, offering hope to the millions affected by bipolar disorder worldwide. – Bree Foster
A potential new approach for controlling oral cancer pain and opioid tolerance
New research points to a shared mechanism behind oral cancer pain and opioid tolerance, suggesting a potential new approach for managing both. Scientists found that signaling through the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), which is overexpressed in many oral cancers, increases nerve sensitivity while reducing the effectiveness of opioids. Oral cancer can be intensely painful, and patients often require high doses of opioids to manage symptoms, which can lead to tolerance, dependence, and other side effects. Using human tissue samples and mouse models, researchers showed that EGFR activation in nerves near tumors drove heightened pain signaling and diminished morphine’s analgesic effects. Importantly, FDA-approved EGFR inhibitors, already used in cancer treatment, were able to both reduce pain and restore opioid effectiveness in preclinical studies. The findings, published in Science Signaling, highlight the possibility of repurposing existing cancer drugs to tackle oral cancer pain while potentially reducing reliance on opioids, offering a biologically targeted approach that could improve quality of life for patients. – Bree Foster
AstraZeneca to invest $15B in China through 2030 to expand R&D and manufacturing
Today, AstraZeneca announced its plans to invest $15 billion in China through 2030 to expand its research, development, and manufacturing capabilities, with a focus on next-generation modalities such as cell therapy and radioconjugates. The investment will build on the company’s existing R&D centers in Beijing and Shanghai, expand manufacturing sites across multiple Chinese cities, and support end-to-end cell therapy capabilities following its acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies. AstraZeneca said the move reflects China’s growing role in scientific innovation and advanced manufacturing, and will support drug discovery, clinical development, and global supply across oncology, hematology, and autoimmune diseases. The investment is expected to grow AstraZeneca’s workforce in China beyond 20,000, deepen collaborations with Chinese biotechs and UK academic institutions, and align with China’s Healthy China 2030 agenda while strengthening broader UK–China life sciences ties. – Andrea Corona
Public Citizen seeks court order to force disclosure of MFN drug pricing deals
Consumer advocacy group Public Citizen has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Commerce, alleging the agencies unlawfully withheld records related to the Trump administration’s most-favored-nation (MFN) drug pricing policy. The suit, filed in federal court in Washington, DC, seeks disclosure of confidential agreements tied to MFN pricing arrangements reportedly negotiated with Pfizer and Eli Lilly, which were announced publicly but never released in full. Public Citizen argues that the lack of transparency prevents meaningful evaluation of whether the agreements would lower drug prices for patients, particularly in Medicaid, and contends that the agencies’ failure to respond to multiple FOIA requests has no legal justification. The filing also raises concerns about the broader pricing context, pointing to continued drug price increases and questioning whether claimed concessions meaningfully offset the commercial upside for manufacturers. – Andrea Corona
