This week on “The Top Line,” we explore the most anticipated drug launches of 2024. Editor-in-Chief Ayla Ellison engages in a conversation with Fierce Pharma Marketing Senior Editor Ben Adams about the drugs likely to launch this year with the most significant sales potential by 2028.

To learn more about the topics in this episode:
Top 10 most anticipated drug launches of 2024
BMS unwraps $14B deal for Karuna, adding a schizophrenia drug awaiting FDA OK
Bristol Myers Squibb has targeted launch plan for ‘multi-billion-dollar opportunity’ in Karuna schizophrenia drug
Meet Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, which wants to be your liver's No. 1 fan

This week on “The Top Line,” we explore the most anticipated drug launches of 2024. Editor-in-Chief Ayla Ellison engages in a conversation with Fierce Pharma Marketing Senior Editor Ben Adams about the drugs likely to launch this year with the most significant sales potential by 2028.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/special-reports/top-10-most-anticipated-drug-launches-2024" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/special-reports/top-10-most-anticipated-drug-launches-2024">Top 10 most anticipated drug launches of 2024</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/bms-unwraps-14b-deal-karuna-adding-schizophrenia-drug-awaiting-fda-ok" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/bms-unwraps-14b-deal-karuna-adding-schizophrenia-drug-awaiting-fda-ok">BMS unwraps $14B deal for Karuna, adding a schizophrenia drug awaiting FDA OK</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/bristol-myers-squibb-has-targeted-launch-plan-multi-billion-dollar-opportunity-karuna" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/bristol-myers-squibb-has-targeted-launch-plan-multi-billion-dollar-opportunity-karuna">Bristol Myers Squibb has targeted launch plan for ‘multi-billion-dollar opportunity’ in Karuna schizophrenia drug</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/meet-madrigal-who-wants-be-your-livers-number-one-fan" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/meet-madrigal-who-wants-be-your-livers-number-one-fan">Meet Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, which wants to be your liver's No. 1 fan</a></li>
</ul>

Biopharma and medtech explained. Every week, journalists from Fierce Biotech, Fierce Medtech, and Fierce Pharma recount the latest industry trends and why they matter. We'll analyze the week's biggest business news, from mergers and marketing to drug R&D and device development. Available every Friday morning. 

Biopharma and medtech explained. Every week, journalists from Fierce Biotech, Fierce Medtech, and Fierce Pharma recount the latest industry trends and why they matter. We'll analyze the week's biggest business news, from mergers and marketing to drug R&amp;D and device development. Available every Friday morning.&nbsp;

The Top Line

Biopharma and medtech explained. Every week, journalists from Fierce Biotech, Fierce Medtech and Fierce Pharma recount the latest industry trends and why they matter. We’ll analyze the week’s biggest business news—from mergers and marketing to drug R&D and device development. Available every Friday morning.

 

Biopharma and medtech explained. Every week, journalists from Fierce Biotech, Fierce Medtech and Fierce Pharma recount the latest industry trends and why they matter. We&rsquo;ll analyze the week&rsquo;s biggest business news&mdash;from mergers and marketing to drug R&amp;D and device development. Available every Friday morning.
&nbsp;

The most anticipated drug launches of 2024

In this episode of The Top Line, host Chris Hayden speaks with Olive McCormick, Head of Quality and Qualified Person at Almac Clinical Services about why late‑breaking issues in clinical trials pose such significant risk — and what teams can do to prevent them. McCormick explains that operational misalignment, delayed communication, overlooked regulatory steps or misinterpretation of requirements under the new UK Clinical Trial Regulation can snowball quickly, putting both patient safety and organizational credibility at stake.

She and Hayden discuss how sponsors, CROs and site teams can keep trials on track by establishing strong communication channels and maintaining a unified understanding of responsibilities as studies reach key milestones. McCormick stresses the value of proactive engagement and early insight into potential challenges, noting that waiting too long to identify or resolve issues increases the likelihood of disruptions.

The episode calls on clinical research professionals to prioritize transparency, coordination and shared accountability. Whether you’re leading a trial or supporting one, the discussion offers practical guidance to help teams avoid the preventable setbacks that so often arise near the finish line.

In this episode of The Top Line, host Chris Hayden speaks with Olive McCormick, Head of Quality and Qualified Person at Almac Clinical Services about why late‑breaking issues in clinical trials pose such significant risk &mdash; and what teams can do to prevent them. McCormick explains that operational misalignment, delayed communication, overlooked regulatory steps or misinterpretation of requirements under the new UK Clinical Trial Regulation can snowball quickly, putting both patient safety and organizational credibility at stake.
She and Hayden discuss how sponsors, CROs and site teams can keep trials on track by establishing strong communication channels and maintaining a unified understanding of responsibilities as studies reach key milestones. McCormick stresses the value of proactive engagement and early insight into potential challenges, noting that waiting too long to identify or resolve issues increases the likelihood of disruptions.
The episode calls on clinical research professionals to prioritize transparency, coordination and shared accountability. Whether you&rsquo;re leading a trial or supporting one, the discussion offers practical guidance to help teams avoid the preventable setbacks that so often arise near the finish line.

Proactive coordination is essential to protect patients, sponsors and trial integrity, especially as teams navigate the new UK Clinical Trial Regulation. Hear why alignment matters more than ever.

Avoiding 11th hour surprises in clinical trials (Sponsored)

Since Xaira’s eye-popping $1 billion fundraise in 2024, the company has said relatively little in public. That’s made it one of biotech’s more closely watched black boxes: a company with enormous backing, enormous ambition and, until recently, few clues about what it has actually been building.

In this week’s episode of “The Top Line,” Fierce Biotech’s Gabrielle Masson speaks with Xaira Chief Operating Officer Jeff Jonker about what the AI company is uncovering. Jonker discusses Xaira’s strategy as a next-generation biotech, the modalities and disease areas it is exploring, what he expects the industry to look like over the next five years and why Xaira is going after the “high-hanging fruit.”

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
Xaira exec divulges R&D focus, how $1B fundraise fuels AI-driven hunt for what the 'industry is hungriest for'
New AI drug discovery powerhouse Xaira rises with $1B in funding
Biotech's top money raisers of 2024

Since Xaira&rsquo;s eye-popping $1 billion fundraise in 2024, the company has said relatively little in public. That&rsquo;s made it one of biotech&rsquo;s more closely watched black boxes: a company with enormous backing, enormous ambition and, until recently, few clues about what it has actually been building.
In this week&rsquo;s episode of &ldquo;The Top Line,&rdquo; Fierce Biotech&rsquo;s Gabrielle Masson speaks with Xaira Chief Operating Officer Jeff Jonker about what the AI company is uncovering. Jonker discusses Xaira&rsquo;s strategy as a next-generation biotech, the modalities and disease areas it is exploring, what he expects the industry to look like over the next five years and why Xaira is going after the &ldquo;high-hanging fruit.&rdquo;
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/xaira-exec-divulges-rd-focus-how-ai-company-chasing-what-industry-hungriest">Xaira exec divulges R&amp;D focus, how $1B fundraise fuels AI-driven hunt for what the 'industry is hungriest for'</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/new-ai-drug-discovery-powerhouse-xaira-rises-1b-funding">New AI drug discovery powerhouse Xaira rises with $1B in funding</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/biotechs-top-money-raisers-2024">Biotech's top money raisers of 2024</a></li>
</ul>

What Xaira is building after its $1B fundraise

In this week’s episode of “The Top Line,” we take a deep dive into the fourth-quarter performance of the biopharma industry and how the sector fared in 2025 overall.

As the world’s 25 largest biopharma companies reported earnings, attention quickly shifted to their outlook for 2026. Only five drugmakers expect faster growth than in 2025, and some are projecting sales declines.

One of the most surprising outlooks came from Novo Nordisk, which expects a significant drop in sales. Several other companies are also facing the loss of patent protection for blockbuster drugs, leading them to forecast either declining revenue or slower growth.

Fierce Pharma’s Kevin Dunleavy and Eric Sagonowsky discuss the trends emerging from fourth-quarter earnings and how the industry’s performance compares with previous quarters. They also examine the intensifying GLP-1 competition between Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and how the two companies appear to be heading in opposite directions.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 

Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk lead revenue boom in the 'always tricky' Q4
As Lilly flourishes in Q4, peer projections signal looming sector slowdown in 2026
Biopharma industry gathers momentum in Q3
In Q3, drugmakers saw a marked decline in US vaccine sales as Eli Lilly kicked into higher gear

In this week&rsquo;s episode of &ldquo;The Top Line,&rdquo; we take a deep dive into the fourth-quarter performance of the biopharma industry and how the sector fared in 2025 overall.
As the world&rsquo;s 25 largest biopharma companies reported earnings, attention quickly shifted to their outlook for 2026. Only five drugmakers expect faster growth than in 2025, and some are projecting sales declines.
One of the most surprising outlooks came from Novo Nordisk, which expects a significant drop in sales. Several other companies are also facing the loss of patent protection for blockbuster drugs, leading them to forecast either declining revenue or slower growth.
Fierce Pharma&rsquo;s Kevin Dunleavy and Eric Sagonowsky discuss the trends emerging from fourth-quarter earnings and how the industry&rsquo;s performance compares with previous quarters. They also examine the intensifying GLP-1 competition between Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and how the two companies appear to be heading in opposite directions.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/eli-lilly-novo-nordisk-lead-revenue-boom-always-tricky-fourth-quarter">Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk lead revenue boom in the 'always tricky' Q4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/while-lilly-continues-boom-q4-many-other-drugmakers-are-projecting-slide-26">As Lilly flourishes in Q4, peer projections signal looming sector slowdown in 2026</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/biopharma-industry-gathers-momentum-q3">Biopharma industry gathers momentum in Q3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/q3-drugmakers-saw-marked-decline-vaccine-sales-especially-us">In Q3, drugmakers saw a marked decline in US vaccine sales as Eli Lilly kicked into higher gear</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

The most anticipated drug launches of 2024

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