• California: Neurocrine Biosciences has agreed to acquire Soleno Therapeutics for $2.9 billion, giving the company access to the first approved treatment for Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. Prader-Willi syndrome causes people to experience unrelenting, compulsive hunger, which can push them to eat to the point of obesity, diabetes, or stomach rupture. Currently, the condition affects around 10,000 people in the United States. FDA approved Soleno's treatment for the condition, Vykat XR, in March 2025, and it generated $190 million in revenue in its first year. In a statement, Neurocrine CEO Kyle Gano said that the company's leaders will leverage "our experience and capabilities to expand VYKAT XR's reach to benefit more patients." (Miller/Martinez, Wall Street Journal, 4/6)
• California/New Jersey: Novo Nordisk and OpenAI are partnering on a new AI initiative for drug discovery. Through the partnership, Novo will integrate OpenAI's models to help analyze complex datasets, identify promising drug candidates, and shorten the time between research and patent application. The company also said that the partnership would increase efficiency across manufacturing, distribution, supply chain, and corporate operations. Pilot programs will initially launch in research and development, manufacturing, and commercial operations before being rolled out to the whole company by the end of the year. "Integrating AI in our everyday work gives us the ability to analyze datasets at a scale that was previously impossible, identify patterns we could not see, and test hypotheses faster than ever," said Novo CEO Mike Doustdar. "This means discovering new therapies and bringing them to market faster than ever before." According to the Wall Street Journal, Novo is the latest high-profile pharmaceutical company to partner with OpenAI. Previously, Moderna, Sanofi, and Formation Bio all announced collaborations with the tech company. (Chopping/Orru, Wall Street Journal, 4/14; Brams, The Hill, 4/14)
• Illinois: AbbVie has filed a lawsuit against HHS over how "patient" is defined in the 340B program. According to the company, the current definition of "patient," which is based on guidance issued in 1996, allows covered entities to claim discounts for prescriptions associated with minimal or unrelated patient interactions, including care provided far from a qualifying facility. AbbVie argued that the current interpretation has led to loopholes that allow duplicate discounts and 340B savings to be used as discretionary revenue. Through the lawsuit, AbbVie aims to establish a clearer definition that requires prescriptions to be connected to care provided at a facility, with providers actively managing treatment and having seen the patient within the last 12 months. According to Becker's Hospital Review, AbbVie has filed several lawsuits over the 340B program and related laws in different states. In February, a federal judge dismissed the company's challenge to Tennessee's Hospital Protection Act, but the Department of Justice filed a brief backing the company in its appeal of Colorado's 340B contract pharmacy law. (Jeffries, Becker's Hospital Review, 4/9)

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