Pharma Pulse 8/4/25: Adapting to a Changing Research Funding Landscape; Merck to Cut 6,000 Jobs as It Aims for $3 Billion in Cost Savings by 2027

Adapting to a Changing Research Funding Landscape

In an interview with Applied Clinical Trials, Michael Miller, COO of Quanterix, discussed how the growing integration of biomarkers—particularly in neurology and oncology—is accelerating drug approvals and enabling more efficient clinical trial models like platform trials, offering strategic opportunities for biopharma companies navigating a shift from private to government-funded research.

Merck to Cut 6,000 Jobs as It Aims for $3 Billion in Cost Savings by 2027

Merck is cutting approximately 6,000 jobs as part of a global restructuring plan to save $3 billion by 2027, aiming to offset revenue risks tied to Keytruda’s upcoming patent loss while reallocating resources toward growth areas and maintaining its leadership in oncology.

Mayo Clinic Treats First Person in the US With a Novel Radiopharmaceutical Therapy for Breast Cancer

Mayo Clinic has become the first center in the United States to treat a patient with metastatic breast cancer using a novel alpha-emitting radiopharmaceutical therapy containing actinium-225, as part of an international phase 1b/2 clinical trial exploring this next-generation, highly targeted treatment developed by RayzeBio.

The Loss of Medicaid and ACA Health Insurance will Lead to Fewer Patients for Physicians

The newly passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act is expected to significantly reduce Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage, potentially leaving up to 20 million people uninsured and leading to fewer patients for physicians—particularly in rural hospitals and Medicaid-dependent facilities—despite modest reimbursement increases and stabilization funds included in the law.

Advancing Prostate Cancer Treatment with Shared Decision-Making

In a recent conversation with Targeted Oncology, Benjamin Garmezy and Ralph J. Miller Jr. emphasized that effective prostate cancer care—particularly for localized disease—relies on shared decision-making, multidisciplinary collaboration, and emerging tools like PSMA PET imaging, focal therapy, and genetic testing to tailor treatment and reduce patient anxiety.