Q2 2026 pharma services news was shaped by AI integrations, high-value licensing activity focused on Chinese and worldwide collaborators, and a major cell and gene therapy acquisition.

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Digital Transformation & AI

OpenAI Launches GPT-Rosalind for Life Sciences R&D

OpenAI launched GPT‑Rosalind, a reasoning model built to support research across biology, drug discovery, and translational medicine, naming Amgen, Moderna, Thermo Fisher and others as early users.

Daiichi Sankyo and Imagene AI Collaborate to Advance Biomarker Discovery

Daiichi Sankyo will leverage Imagene’s OI Suite to generate insights relating to longitudinal clinical outcomes from H&E and IHC whole slide images. The collaboration aims to help inform biomarker hypotheses, stratify patients, and ultimately apply to Daiichi’s ADC programs in development.

Labcorp Introduces RWD Platform to Support Alzheimer’s Research

Labcorp launched an AI-powered real-world data platform in partnership with AWS and Datavant to accelerate Alzheimer's research, focusing on shortening drug development timelines and improving patient recruitment for clinical trials. The platform can be leveraged by researchers, pharma companies, CROs, and payors to gather insights.  

USC and Tempus Collaborate to Integrate Patient Care

USC announced a broad collaboration with Tempus to embed its genomic testing, AI tools, and data platform across more than 1.5 million annual patient visits in their Southern California network, deepening Tempus's real-world oncology data moat.  

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High Value Licensing

AstraZeneca and CSPC Collaborate to Advance Drug Discovery

AstraZeneca and Shijiazhuang City-based CSPC Pharmaceuticals agreed to discover and develop multiple targets across chronic indications. CSPC will receive an upfront payment of $110M and could receive up to $1.62B in milestone payments, as well as additional payments based on sales and royalties.  

Pfizer and Innovent Collaborate on ADC Opportunities

Pfizer and Innovent Biologics entered a licensing / collaboration agreement for the research and development of 12 ADCs and multispecific antibodies, with the Chinese biopharma garnering $650 million upfront and up to $9.85 billion in development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, plus royalties and US / Europe profit-sharing on co-developed candidates.

BMS and Hengrui Pharma Enter Global Collaboration: Potential Value of $15.2B  

BMS and Hengrui have entered a global collaboration covering 13 early-stage oncology, hematology, and immunology programs, including assets contributed by both companies and newly co-discovered programs. The deal includes $600M upfront plus future milestone payments, with Hengrui leading early clinical development and retaining certain rights in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Hengrui may also co-develop select assets and participate in commercialization activities globally with BMS.

Lonza Expands Partnership with Large, Unnamed U.S. Pharma

Lonza announced expansion of scope with an unnamed U.S. drugmaker, with potential to deliver a multi-billion cumulative. The services provided will come from Lonza’s U.S. commercial-scale biologics sites, complemented by European capacities for drug development.  

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Personnel

Evotec Names Rui Wang as EVP, Head of Global In Silico and AI

Evotec appointed Rui Wang as Executive Vice President, Head of Global In Silico and AI. The role will shape and execute global strategy for AI-driven, in silico innovation. Rui Wang recently served as the Head of Data, Analytics and AI at AstraZeneca.  

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M&A

GI Partners Completes Charles River Laboratories Acquisition: Rose BioSolutions

PE firm GI Partners completed the acquisition of the CDMO and Cell Solutions businesses from Charles River Laboratories, forming Rose BioSolutions, a cell and gene therapy-focused CDMO. Rose Bio will be an “end-to-end" solution for clients, dedicated to cell and gene therapy development and manufacturing.