Katherine Davis
@katherinedavis.bsky.social
Journalist 🗞️ | Covering biotech deals @axios.com 🧬
Pinned
📣 Today is my first day as a Biotech Deals Reporter for @axios.com! I’m covering VC, PE and M&A activity across the biotech sector. I’m still based in Chicago but will be covering news across the U.S. Please send tips and pitches (or just say hi) to katherine.davis@axios.com.
Genmab to buy cancer biotech Merus for $8B:
Genmab to buy Merus for $8B
Big ticket acquisitions are heating up.
www.axios.com
September 29, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Genmab to buy cancer biotech Merus for $8B:
Portal Innovations targets $100M biotech fund:
Portal Innovations targets $100m biotech fund
It aims to help fill gaps left by NIH grant cutbacks.
www.axios.com
August 12, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Portal Innovations targets $100M biotech fund:
💡 Bain Capital expects to pursue more deals like its recent $300M partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb, a source familiar with the firm's thinking tells me.
The deal demonstrates PE interest in carving out new biopharma upstarts.
The deal demonstrates PE interest in carving out new biopharma upstarts.
Bain leads $300M bet on biotech developing BMS drugs
The deal shows Bain's continued interest in carving out new biopharma upstarts.
www.axios.com
July 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
💡 Bain Capital expects to pursue more deals like its recent $300M partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb, a source familiar with the firm's thinking tells me.
The deal demonstrates PE interest in carving out new biopharma upstarts.
The deal demonstrates PE interest in carving out new biopharma upstarts.
Novo ends partnership with Hims & Hers over compounding concerns:
Novo ends partnership with Hims & Hers over compounding concerns
It's the latest flashpoint between Big Pharma and GLP-1 compounding companies.
www.axios.com
June 23, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Novo ends partnership with Hims & Hers over compounding concerns:
Carole Nuechterlein, the long-time head of Roche's venture fund, is retiring next spring, and the multinational pharma company is already looking for her replacement:
Head of Roche's VC fund to step down
The company is seeking Carole Nuechterlein's replacement.
www.axios.com
June 20, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Carole Nuechterlein, the long-time head of Roche's venture fund, is retiring next spring, and the multinational pharma company is already looking for her replacement:
⚡️Exclusive: Future Fields raises $8M to scale protein manufacturing platform:
Exclusive: Future Fields raises $8M Series A round
Its platform harnesses the common fruit fly for recombinant protein production.
www.axios.com
June 17, 2025 at 4:09 PM
⚡️Exclusive: Future Fields raises $8M to scale protein manufacturing platform:
Reposted by Katherine Davis
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump administration gives data of immigrant Medicaid enrollees to deportation officials, documents obtained by AP show.
June 13, 2025 at 2:31 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump administration gives data of immigrant Medicaid enrollees to deportation officials, documents obtained by AP show.
Reposted by Katherine Davis
Tonight's story here — hours of marching, a couple tense confrontations with police, not clear how many arrests yet. Photos by @mandophotos.bsky.social and @jkimpictures.bsky.social
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/10/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/10/c...
June 11, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Tonight's story here — hours of marching, a couple tense confrontations with police, not clear how many arrests yet. Photos by @mandophotos.bsky.social and @jkimpictures.bsky.social
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/10/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/10/c...
💸 Deerfield Management raised a new $600M fund to invest in life sciences and health care companies, but it wasn't easy amid a turbulent IPO market.
"No IPOs in biotech to speak of is not something that makes people want to rush in."
"No IPOs in biotech to speak of is not something that makes people want to rush in."
Deerfield Management raises $600M for new fund in 'constrained' market
A turbulent IPO market is scaring off would-be investors.
www.axios.com
May 5, 2025 at 7:27 PM
💸 Deerfield Management raised a new $600M fund to invest in life sciences and health care companies, but it wasn't easy amid a turbulent IPO market.
"No IPOs in biotech to speak of is not something that makes people want to rush in."
"No IPOs in biotech to speak of is not something that makes people want to rush in."
🧬 Creyon Bio, a San Diego biotech developing nucleic acid drugs, landed a licensing and multi-target research deal with Eli Lilly worth up to $1B:
San Diego biotech lands $1B licensing deal
The agreement with Eli Lilly comes as Creyon Bio seeks more funding.
www.axios.com
April 29, 2025 at 2:33 PM
🧬 Creyon Bio, a San Diego biotech developing nucleic acid drugs, landed a licensing and multi-target research deal with Eli Lilly worth up to $1B:
💉Ahead of AbbVie's Q1 earnings tomorrow, I muse on what tariffs would mean for Botox.
AbbVie faces a Botox conundrum
Tariffs could dampen sales of the Ireland-produced drug.
www.axios.com
April 24, 2025 at 9:15 PM
💉Ahead of AbbVie's Q1 earnings tomorrow, I muse on what tariffs would mean for Botox.
Exclusive! San Diego-based Biolinq closes on $100M as it awaits FDA approval for its wearable glucose monitoring device.
Health-tech startup raises $100M
The San Diego company is developing wearable glucose monitors.
www.axios.com
April 22, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Exclusive! San Diego-based Biolinq closes on $100M as it awaits FDA approval for its wearable glucose monitoring device.
Reposted by Katherine Davis
@katherinedavis.bsky.social hired by @axios.com to cover biotech deals: talkingbiznews.com/media-news/a...
Axios hires Davis to cover biotech deals - Talking Biz News
Axios has hired Katherine Davis as its biotechnology deals reporter. Davis has been at Crain’s Chicago Business covering health care and life sciences companies. She previously was a general assignmen...
talkingbiznews.com
April 10, 2025 at 5:23 PM
@katherinedavis.bsky.social hired by @axios.com to cover biotech deals: talkingbiznews.com/media-news/a...
📣 Today is my first day as a Biotech Deals Reporter for @axios.com! I’m covering VC, PE and M&A activity across the biotech sector. I’m still based in Chicago but will be covering news across the U.S. Please send tips and pitches (or just say hi) to katherine.davis@axios.com.
April 7, 2025 at 4:44 PM
📣 Today is my first day as a Biotech Deals Reporter for @axios.com! I’m covering VC, PE and M&A activity across the biotech sector. I’m still based in Chicago but will be covering news across the U.S. Please send tips and pitches (or just say hi) to katherine.davis@axios.com.
Exclusive! Sibel Health, a Chicago medical device and technology startup, has raised $30 million from investors.
Northwestern biotech spinout raises $30 million
Sibel Health's clinical-grade wireless and wearable sensors track everything from heart rate to patient activity.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 19, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Exclusive! Sibel Health, a Chicago medical device and technology startup, has raised $30 million from investors.
Protect your health because no one else will.
Exclusive | Trump Administration Weighing Major Cuts to Funding for Domestic HIV Prevention
The plans could be announced as soon as within a day, people familiar with the matter said, if the administration goes ahead.
www.wsj.com
March 19, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Protect your health because no one else will.
Reposted by Katherine Davis
The talent, experience and institutional knowledge the Sun-Times is losing is devastating.
Chicago is worse for it.
Chicago is worse for it.
Thirty employees of the Chicago Sun-Times — around one in five on its payroll — have agreed to resign after a buyout offer.
The departures primarily affect writers and editors, many of whom have extensive experience at the newspaper.
The departures primarily affect writers and editors, many of whom have extensive experience at the newspaper.
Chicago Sun-Times to lose 20% of staff after buyout offer
Columnists, editorial writers and many more head for the exits as the paper's nonprofit owner, Chicago Public Media, deals with fiscal hardship.
trib.al
March 19, 2025 at 3:33 AM
The talent, experience and institutional knowledge the Sun-Times is losing is devastating.
Chicago is worse for it.
Chicago is worse for it.
Interesting perspective in @crainschicago.bsky.social today about Prime Healthcare entering the Chicago market:
Opinion: A 'lean and mean' Prime Healthcare poses risks for Illinois
Hailed as good news by local communities, there are serious risks associated with the transaction, which the Legislature should take immediate steps to prevent.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 12, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Interesting perspective in @crainschicago.bsky.social today about Prime Healthcare entering the Chicago market:
West Suburban Medical Center, which recently lost accreditation to operate residency programs, is now working to appeal the decision.
West Suburban appeals to restore residency program
The Oak Park hospital's parent also accused its former president of medical staff of trying to “sabotage” its residency program.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 11, 2025 at 9:48 PM
West Suburban Medical Center, which recently lost accreditation to operate residency programs, is now working to appeal the decision.
Vista Medical Center East has extended furloughs for non-medical staff amid ongoing financial challenges:
Furloughs at Vista Medical Center East extended amid budget constraints
Even still, the hospital has hired 50 new nurses, its CEO says.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 6, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Vista Medical Center East has extended furloughs for non-medical staff amid ongoing financial challenges:
SimCare AI, a Chicago upstart developing an artificial intelligence-based clinician-training platform, has raised $2 million from investors.
AI-powered health care training startup raises $2 million
SimCare AI, founded by two University of Chicago dropouts, is building a clinician-training platform that allows users to treat and care for AI-enabled virtual patients.
www.chicagobusiness.com
February 27, 2025 at 9:21 PM
SimCare AI, a Chicago upstart developing an artificial intelligence-based clinician-training platform, has raised $2 million from investors.
The end of an era.
Tech incubator 1871 is leaving the Merchandise Mart
It's the latest example of how the pandemic has forced organizations to rethink their need for office space.
www.chicagobusiness.com
February 26, 2025 at 10:20 PM
The end of an era.
Chicago startup Proximity raises $3M to help hospitals and health clinics navigate the complex 340B drug discount program:
Chicago startup raises $3 million to help hospitals maximize drug discounts
Proximity, founded by a Kalderos alum, identifies savings opportunities and potential compliance issues for health care providers enrolled in the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
www.chicagobusiness.com
February 25, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Chicago startup Proximity raises $3M to help hospitals and health clinics navigate the complex 340B drug discount program:
Baxter International’s IV plant in North Carolina is back to full capacity after damage from Hurricane Helene. All 10 manufacturing lines are running, but some supply limits remain to prevent stockpiling.
Baxter plant returns to full production after Hurricane Helene disruption
All 10 of the facility’s manufacturing lines have restarted following a shutdown nearly five months ago.
www.chicagobusiness.com
February 18, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Baxter International’s IV plant in North Carolina is back to full capacity after damage from Hurricane Helene. All 10 manufacturing lines are running, but some supply limits remain to prevent stockpiling.
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago will continue a pause on gender-affirming care surgeries for patients under 19 years old despite a court yesterday blocking an executive order from President Donald Trump that aims to cut federal funding for those services:
Lurie keeps pause on gender-affirming surgeries despite halt on Trump order
The stoppage is now catching the ire of at least one local group that’s planning to protest the hospital's decision.
www.chicagobusiness.com
February 14, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago will continue a pause on gender-affirming care surgeries for patients under 19 years old despite a court yesterday blocking an executive order from President Donald Trump that aims to cut federal funding for those services: