1️⃣ Bayer is paying up for disease-modifying eyes
Bayer agreed on May 6 to buy Perfuse for up to $2.45B, including $300M upfront, for PER-001, a Phase 2 intravitreal endothelin receptor antagonist in glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.
💡 Why it matters
Ophthalmology deal value is moving toward modifying disease, not just making injections easier. For Bayer, this is a pipeline reset around huge chronic markets still mostly managed, not altered.
☕ Coffee talk
Is $300M upfront enough conviction, or just a cheap option on glaucoma biology?
2️⃣ CellCentric just bought time to stay independent
CellCentric raised an oversubscribed $220M Series D to fund inobrodib through DOMMINO-1 and a global Phase 3 DOMMINO-2 trial in the second half of 2026.
💡 Why it matters
Myeloma is one of the few oncology areas where FDA endpoint policy has made late-stage private financing easier to defend. This round gives CellCentric room to choose between IPO, M&A and staying private.
☕ Coffee talk
With cash to 2029, who still gets to set the price: buyers or the syndicate?
3️⃣ Cytokinetics pushed Myqorzo past Camzyos’ miss
Cytokinetics’ ACACIA-HCM Phase 3 trial met both primary endpoints in non-obstructive HCM, with statistically significant gains in KCCQ-CSS and peak oxygen consumption at week 36.
💡 Why it matters
There are no approved nHCM therapies. A clean enough regulatory package would separate Myqorzo from Camzyos and turn HCM from a single-label launch into a broader franchise contest.
☕ Coffee talk
If regulators buy this signal, how quickly does BMS have to reopen the nHCM file?