Pharmaceutical industry sees investment shifts and FDA approvals

The pharmaceutical sector saw significant developments in September 2026 regarding investment trends and regulatory approvals. In the United Kingdom, foreign direct investment in the pharma sector reached £167.2m in the first half of 2026, more than doubling the £88.8m recorded throughout 2025. However, the industry faces intense global competition, with Ireland increasing R&D tax credits to 35% and Japan offering strategic-technology tax credits of at least 40%.

Economic debates continue regarding the high cost of advanced genetic medicines. Ultragenyx priced its gene therapy Fayuvi at $3.95m, joining other high-cost treatments like Lenmeldy ($4.25m) and Hemgenix ($3.5m). Manufacturers argue these one-time costs should be weighed against the lifetime expenses of managing chronic diseases.

In the United States, the FDA issued several key approvals and updates. Abbott’s TactiFlex Duo Ablation Catheter was approved for atrial fibrillation patients. Additionally, the FDA updated the label for sotatercept-csrk to include efficacy and safety data from the HYPERION trial for pulmonary arterial hypertension, and approved mavacamten for pediatric patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.