Category: 3. Business

  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approves BioMarin’s PALYNZIQ® (pegvaliase-pqpz) for Adolescents 12 Years of Age and Older with Phenylketonuria (PKU)

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approves BioMarin’s PALYNZIQ® (pegvaliase-pqpz) for Adolescents 12 Years of Age and Older with Phenylketonuria (PKU)

    Treatment with PALYNZIQ led to statistically significant blood phenylalanine (Phe) lowering compared to diet alone in pivotal Phase 3 PEGASUS study

    PALYNZIQ is the only enzyme substitution therapy approved for the treatment of people with PKU

    SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq: BMRN) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company’s supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for PALYNZIQ® (pegvaliase-pqpz) to include pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with phenylketonuria (PKU). PALYNZIQ is the only enzyme substitution therapy approved to reduce blood phenylalanine (Phe) concentrations in people with PKU.

    “Adolescence is a period of increasing independence and academic demands, and represents a particularly challenging time for individuals with PKU. The ultra-restrictive diet required for PKU management may become unsustainable, and poor blood Phe control leads to adverse neurocognitive outcomes. PALYNZIQ is the only genotype-independent medication which may bring Phe into the normal range while allowing an unrestricted diet,” said Stephanie Sacharow, M.D., Director, Dr. Harvey Levy Program for PKU and Related Conditions, Boston Children’s Hospital. “In my clinic we have found that PALYNZIQ treatment adherence is even more successful in teens under age 18, while they are living at home with family support, and this approval allows us to extend this therapeutic option to adolescents who may benefit most.” 

    The FDA approval is based on data from PEGASUS, a Phase 3 multi-center open-label randomized controlled study evaluating the safety and efficacy of PALYNZIQ compared to diet alone in adolescents aged 12 to <18 with PKU who had uncontrolled blood Phe concentrations greater than 600 µmol/L on existing management. Individuals in the PALYNZIQ arm showed a significant mean reduction from baseline in blood Phe levels at Week 72 compared to those in the diet only arm (Table 1).

    Table 1: Change from Baseline in Blood Phe Level (by μmol/L) Among Randomized
    Participants in PEGASUS

    Study Visit

    PALYNZIQ

    Diet Only

    Baseline

    N = 36

    N = 19

      Mean (standard deviation [SD])

    1025 (254)

    1029 (199)

    Week 72

    N = 32

    N = 17

         Mean (SD)

    567 (396)

    973 (234)

    Mean (SD; min, max) Change at Week 72

    -473 (285; -22, -1133)

    -19 (249; 355, -634)

      Treatment Difference (95% CI)

    -409 (-579, -240)



    “Today’s FDA approval for PALYNZIQ is an important step forward for the PKU community, providing a new option for adolescents ages 12 and older that has the potential to improve daily PKU management,” said Catherine Warren, Executive Director of the National PKU Alliance. “Adolescence is a time of major change for people living with PKU, and having PALYNZIQ available better sets teenagers up for success with managing their blood phenylalanine levels as they navigate the transition into adulthood.”

    As was recently presented at the 15th International Congress of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, by the end of Part 1 almost half of participants (44.4%) reached levels below guideline recommendations. Of those individuals, 75% were below 120 µmol/L and their average Phe reduction was 828 µmol/L (94% reduction in blood Phe from baseline). Nine participants whose blood Phe levels were below 30 µmol/L (hypophenylalaninemia) were able to increase their intact protein intake by 318.1% from baseline (SD=195.4; min=1.42, max=542.5) and decrease their intake of medical food protein by 55.16% (SD=56.4; min=-100, max=60.3); six individuals discontinued medical food completely.

    The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) with PALYNZIQ in adolescents were injection site reactions, arthralgia, headache, pyrexia, hypersensitivity reactions, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and pain in extremity. As in previous clinical studies, the overall safety profile of PALYNZIQ observed in adolescents showed most reactions occurring in the induction/titration phase and decreasing in frequency during the maintenance phase.

    “Over the past two decades, BioMarin has been working hand-in-hand with the medical and advocacy communities to improve the lives of people living with PKU, including introduction of the first two treatment options for this inherited metabolic condition that otherwise requires lifelong adherence to a rigid medical diet,” said Greg Friberg, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Research & Development Officer at BioMarin. “We are proud to build on this legacy by expanding PALYNZIQ’s approval to adolescents as young as age 12, which will allow even more people with PKU the prospect of achieving substantially lower Phe levels.”

    The company is also seeking approval from the European Medicines Agency with the goal of expanding treatment with PALYNZIQ to include adolescents as young as age 12 in the European Union.

    Dr. Stephanie Sacharow has participated in speaking engagements and served on advisory boards for BioMarin.

    About PALYNZIQ

    PALYNZIQ substitutes the deficient phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) enzyme in PKU with a PEGylated version of the enzyme phenylalanine ammonia lyase to break down Phe. PALYNZIQ is administered using a dosing regimen designed to facilitate tolerability; PALYNZIQ’s safety profile consists primarily of immune-mediated responses, which can include anaphylaxis, for which robust risk management measures effective in clinical trials are in place.

    See the full Prescribing Information, which includes a Boxed Warning. PALYNZIQ is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the PALYNZIQ REMS, because of the risk of anaphylaxis. Further information, including a list of qualified pharmacies, is available at www.PALYNZIQREMS.com or by telephone 1-855-758-REMS (1-855-758-7367).

    PALYNZIQ is approved for the treatment of PKU in more than 35 countries worldwide.

    Patient Support Accessing PALYNZIQ

    To reach a BioMarin RareConnections® Case Manager, please call, toll-free, 1-866-906-6100 or e-mail [email protected]. For more information about PALYNZIQ, please visit www.palynziq.com. For additional information regarding this product, please contact BioMarin Medical Information at [email protected].

    About Phenylketonuria

    PKU, or phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency, is a genetic condition affecting approximately 70,000 people in the regions of the world where BioMarin operates. The PAH enzyme is required for the metabolism of Phe, an essential amino acid found in most protein-containing foods. If functional enzyme is not present in sufficient quantities, Phe accumulates to abnormally high levels in the blood and becomes toxic to the brain, resulting in a variety of complications including severe intellectual disability, seizures, tremors, behavioral problems and psychiatric symptoms.

    As a result of newborn screening efforts implemented in the 1960s and early 1970s, virtually all individuals with PKU born after this period in countries with newborn screening programs are diagnosed at birth and treatment is implemented soon after.

    PKU can be managed with a severe Phe-restricted diet, supplemented by low-protein modified foods and Phe-free medical foods; however, it is difficult for most individuals to adhere to this strict diet to the extent needed to achieve adequate control of blood Phe levels. Dietary control of Phe in childhood can prevent major developmental issues and neurological consequences, but poor Phe control in adolescence and adulthood is associated with a range of neuropsychological deficits and functional impairment.

    PALYNZIQ U.S. Indication and Important Safety Information

    PALYNZIQ® (pegvaliase-pqpz) is a phenylalanine (Phe)-metabolizing enzyme indicated to reduce blood Phe concentrations in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with phenylketonuria (PKU) who have uncontrolled blood Phe concentrations greater than 600 micromol/L (10 mg/dL) on existing management.

    BOXED WARNING: ANAPHYLAXIS

    • Anaphylaxis has been reported after administration of PALYNZIQ and may occur at any time during treatment.
    • Administer the initial dose of PALYNZIQ under the supervision of a healthcare provider equipped to manage anaphylaxis, and closely observe patients for at least 60 minutes following injection. Prior to self-injection, confirm patient’s and observer’s (if applicable) ability to recognize signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and to administer epinephrine, if needed.
    • Consider having an adult observer for patients who may need assistance in recognizing and managing anaphylaxis during PALYNZIQ treatment. If an adult observer is needed, the observer should be present during and for at least 60 minutes after PALYNZIQ administration, should be able to administer epinephrine, and call for emergency medical support upon its use.
    • Prescribe epinephrine for all patients treated with PALYNZIQ. Prior to the first dose, instruct the patient and observer (if applicable) on its appropriate use. Instruct the patient to seek immediate medical care upon its use. Instruct patients to carry epinephrine with them at all times during PALYNZIQ treatment.
    • PALYNZIQ is available only through a restricted program called PALYNZIQ REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy). Further information, including a list of qualified pharmacies, is available at PALYNZIQREMS.com or by telephone at 1-855-758-REMS (1-855-758-7367).

    WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

    Anaphylaxis

    • Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis reported include syncope, hypotension, hypoxia, dyspnea, wheezing, chest discomfort/chest tightness, tachycardia, angioedema (swelling of face, lips, eyes, tongue), throat swelling or tightness, flushed or red skin, rash, urticaria, pruritus, and gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, nausea, diarrhea).
    • Anaphylaxis generally occurred within 1 hour after injection; however, delayed episodes occurred up to 48 hours after PALYNZIQ administration.
    • Consider the risks and benefits of readministering PALYNZIQ following an episode of anaphylaxis. If the decision is made to readminister PALYNZIQ, administer the first dose under the supervision of a healthcare provider equipped to manage anaphylaxis and closely observe the patient for at least 60 minutes following the dose.
    • In clinical trials of primarily adult patients with an induction/titration/maintenance dosage regimen, 29/285 (10%) experienced a total of 42 anaphylaxis episodes.
    • In a clinical trial of patients 12 to less than 18 years of age, 4/36 (11%) of PALYNZIQ-treated patients experienced 1 episode of anaphylaxis.

    Other Hypersensitivity Reactions

    • Management of hypersensitivity reactions should be based on the severity of the reaction, recurrence of the reaction, and the clinical judgment of the healthcare provider.
    • In clinical trials of primarily adult patients taking PALYNZIQ, hypersensitivity reactions, other than anaphylaxis, were reported in 204/285 (72%) of patients. In a clinical trial of patients 12 to less than 18 years old taking PALYNZIQ, these reactions were reported in 12 out of 36 (33%) of patients.

    Injection Site Infections

    • Serious injection site infections including abscess, cellulitis, necrosis, and ulcer have been reported. Some cases required hospitalization, surgical debridement, intravenous antibiotics, and discontinuation of PALYNZIQ.
    • Provide proper training to patients and/or caregivers on the use of aseptic injection technique, injection site rotation and to check the site for redness, swelling, or tenderness. Instruct patients to contact their healthcare provider if signs or symptoms of an infection develop, persist, or worsen.

    Hypophenylalaninemia (HypoPhe)
    Some patients have experienced HypoPhe; monitor blood Phe levels periodically during treatment. Frequent blood Phe monitoring is recommended in the pediatric population. For blood Phe concentrations below 30 micromol/L, the dosage of PALYNZIQ may be reduced and/or dietary protein and Phe intake may be modified to maintain blood Phe concentrations within a clinically acceptable range and above 30 micromol/L.

    ADVERSE REACTIONS
    The most common adverse reactions in clinical trials of primarily adult patients (at least 20% in either treatment phase) were injection site reactions, arthralgia, hypersensitivity reactions, headache, generalized skin reactions lasting at least 14 days, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, cough, oropharyngeal pain, pruritus, diarrhea, nasal congestion, fatigue, dizziness, and anxiety.

    • Arthralgia: In clinical trials, 245 out of 285 (86%) primarily adult patients experienced episodes consistent with arthralgia (includes back pain, musculoskeletal pain, pain in extremity, and neck pain).
    • Injection site reactions were reported as early as after the first dose of PALYNZIQ and occurred at any time during treatment.
    • Generalized Skin Reactions: In clinical trials, 134 out of 285 (47%) primarily adult patients treated with PALYNZIQ experienced generalized skin reactions (not limited to the injection site) lasting at least 14 days.
    • Angioedema and serum sickness: In clinical trials, 22 out of 285 (8%) primarily adult patients experienced 45 episodes of angioedema (symptoms included: pharyngeal edema, swollen tongue, lip swelling, mouth swelling, eyelid edema, and face edema) occurring independent of anaphylaxis. In clinical trials, serum sickness was reported in 7 out of 285 (2%) primarily adult patients.

    In the clinical trials, adverse reactions were associated with treatment discontinuation, dosage reduction and temporary drug interruption. In the 285 primarily adult patients exposed to PALYNZIQ in an induction/titration/maintenance regimen in clinical trials, 44 (15%) patients discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions.

    Pediatric Patients: In a clinical study of 55 patients aged 12 to less than 18 years of age, the most common adverse reactions (at least 20% and greater than in control) were injection site reactions, arthralgia, headache, pyrexia, hypersensitivity reactions, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and pain in extremity. Two patients (5.6%) discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions.

    Blood Phenylalanine Monitoring and Diet

    • Obtain blood Phe concentrations every 4 weeks until a maintenance dosage is established. Periodically monitor blood Phe concentrations during maintenance therapy.
    • Counsel patients to monitor dietary protein and Phe intake, and adjust as directed by their healthcare provider.

    DRUG INTERACTIONS

    Effect of PALYNZIQ on Other PEGylated Products

    • In a single-dose study of PALYNZIQ in adult patients with PKU, two patients receiving concomitant injections of medroxyprogesterone acetate suspension (a formulation containing PEG 3350) experienced a hypersensitivity reaction. One of the two patients experienced anaphylaxis
    • The clinical effects of concomitant treatment with different PEGylated products are unknown. Monitor patients treated with PALYNZIQ and concomitantly with other PEGylated products for hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis

    USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

    Pregnancy and Lactation
    Available data do not establish an increased risk of adverse developmental outcomes to the fetus exposed to PALYNZIQ.

    • Advise women who are exposed to PALYNZIQ during pregnancy or who become pregnant within one month following the last dose of PALYNZIQ that there is a pregnancy surveillance program that monitors pregnancy outcomes. Healthcare providers should report PALYNZIQ exposure and encourage these patients to report their pregnancy to BioMarin (1-866-906-6100).
    • Monitor blood Phe levels in breastfeeding women treated with PALYNZIQ to ensure maintenance of blood Phe <360 micromol/L. Adjust dosage and/or dietary protein and Phe intake as needed to avoid concentrations below 30 micromol/L.

    Pediatric & Geriatric Use: The safety and effectiveness of PALYNZIQ in pediatric patients from birth to less than 12 years have not been established. Clinical studies of PALYNZIQ did not include patients aged 65 years and older.

    You are encouraged to report suspected adverse reactions to BioMarin at 1-866-906-6100, or to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

    Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning.

    About BioMarin

    BioMarin is a leading, global rare disease biotechnology company focused on delivering medicines for people living with genetically defined conditions. Founded in 1997, the San Rafael, California-based company has a proven track record of innovation, with eight commercial therapies and a strong clinical and preclinical pipeline. Using a distinctive approach to drug discovery and development, BioMarin seeks to unleash the full potential of genetic science by pursuing category-defining medicines that have a profound impact on patients. To learn more, please visit www.biomarin.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements about the business prospects of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BioMarin), including without limitation, statements about: the approval of BioMarin’s supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for PALYNZIQ for adolescents 12 years of age and older with phenylketonuria (PKU) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including the safety profile and potential benefits of PALYNZIQ for adolescents and the potential to fundamentally change the way adolescents manage PKU in their daily lives; BioMarin’s work with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) with the goal of expanding treatment with PALYNZIQ to include adolescents as young as age 12 in the European Union; and the continued clinical development of PALYNZIQ. These forward-looking statements are predictions and involve risks and uncertainties such that actual results may differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, results and timing of current and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials of PALYNZIQ; any potential adverse events observed in the continuing monitoring of the patients in the clinical trials; the content and timing of decisions by the FDA, the EMA, the European Commission and other regulatory authorities, and those factors detailed in BioMarin’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including, without limitation, the factors contained under the caption “Risk Factors” in BioMarin’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, as such factors may be updated by any subsequent filings with the SEC. Investors are urged not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. BioMarin is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    BioMarin®, BioMarin RareConnections® and PALYNZIQ® are registered trademarks of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

    Contacts:




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    Media

    Traci McCarty

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    BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.                                                            

    BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

    (415) 455-7558                                                                                    

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    SOURCE BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

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  • Power, politics and a $2.8-billion exit: How Paramount won Warners

    Power, politics and a $2.8-billion exit: How Paramount won Warners

    The morning after Netflix clinched its deal to buy Warner Bros., Paramount Skydance Chairman David Ellison assembled a war room of trusted advisors, including his billionaire father, Larry Ellison.

    Furious at Warner Bros. Discovery Chief David Zaslav for ending the auction, the Ellisons and their team began plotting their comeback on that crisp December day.

    To rattle Warner Bros. Discovery and its investors, they launched a three-front campaign: a lawsuit, a hostile takeover bid and direct lobbying of the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress.

    “There was a master battle plan — and it was extremely disciplined,” said one auction insider who was not authorized to comment publicly.

    Netflix stunned the industry late Thursday by pulling out of the bidding, clearing the way for Paramount to claim the company that owns HBO, HBO Max, CNN, TBS, Food Network and the Warner Bros. film and television studios in Burbank. The deal was valued at more than $111 billion.

    The streaming giant’s reversal came just hours after co-Chief Executive Ted Sarandos met with Atty Gen. Pam Bondi and a deputy at the White House. It was a cordial session, but the Trump officials told Sarandos that his deal was facing significant hurdles in Washington, according to a person close to the administration who was not authorized to comment publicly.

    Even before that meeting, the tide had turned for Paramount in a swell of power, politics and brinkmanship.

    “Netflix played their cards well; however, Paramount played their cards perfectly,” said Jonathan Miller, chief executive of Integrated Media Co. “They did exactly what they had to do and when they had to do it — which was at the very last moment.”

    Key to victory was Larry Ellison, his $200-billion fortune and his connections to President Trump and congressional Republicans.

    Paramount also hired Trump’s former antitrust chief, attorney Makan Delrahim, to quarterback the firm’s legal and regulatory action.

    Republicans during a Senate hearing this month piled onto Sarandos with complaints about potential monopolistic practices and “woke” programming.

    David Ellison skipped that hearing. This week, however, he attended Trump’s State of the Union address in the Capitol chambers, a guest of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). The two men posed, grinning and giving a thumbs-up, for a photo that was posted to Graham’s X account.

    David Ellison, the chairman and chief executive of Paramount Skydance Corp., walks through Statuary Hall to the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 24, 2026.

    (Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images)

    On Friday, Netflix said it had received a $2.8-billion payment — a termination fee Paramount agreed to pay to send Netflix on its way.

    Long before David Ellison and his family acquired Paramount and CBS last summer, the 43-year-old tech scion and aircraft pilot already had his sights set on Warner Bros. Discovery.

    Paramount’s assets, including MTV, Nickelodeon and the Melrose Avenue movie studio, have been fading. Ellison recognized he needed the more robust company — Warner Bros. Discovery — to achieve his ambitions.

    “From the very beginning, our pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery has been guided by a clear purpose: to honor the legacy of two iconic companies while accelerating our vision of building a next-generation media and entertainment company,” David Ellison said in a Friday statement. “We couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”

    Warner’s chief, Zaslav, who had initially opposed the Paramount bid, added: “We look forward to working with Paramount to complete this historic transaction.”

    Netflix, in a separate statement, said it was unwilling to go beyond its $82.7-billion proposal that Warner board members accepted Dec. 4.

    “We believe we would have been strong stewards of Warner Bros.’ iconic brands, and that our deal would have strengthened the entertainment industry and preserved and created more production jobs,” Sarandos and co-Chief Executive Greg Peters said in a statement.

    “But this transaction was always a ‘nice to have’ at the right price, not a ‘must have’ at any price,” the Netflix chiefs said.

    Netflix may have miscalculated the Ellison family’s determination when it agreed Feb. 16 to allow Paramount back into the bidding.

    The Los Gatos, Calif.-based company already had prevailed in the auction, and had an agreement in hand. Its next step was a shareholder vote.

    “They didn’t need to let Paramount back in, but there was a lot of pressure on them to make sure the process wouldn’t be challenged,” Miller said.

    In addition, Netflix’s stock had also been pummeled — the company had lost a quarter of its value — since investors learned the company was making a Warner run.

    Upon news that Netflix had withdrawn, its shares soared Friday nearly 14% to $96.24.

    Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos arrives at the White House

    Netflix Chief Executive Ted Sarandos arrives at the White House on Feb. 26, 2026.

    (Andrew Leyden / Getty Images)

    Invited back into the auction room, Paramount unveiled a much stronger proposal than the one it submitted in December.

    The elder Ellison had pledged to personally guarantee the deal, including $45.7 billion in equity required to close the transaction. And if bankers became worried that Paramount was too leveraged, the tech mogul agreed to put in more money in order to secure the bank financing.

    That promise assuaged Warner Bros. Discovery board members who had fretted for weeks that they weren’t sure Ellison would sign on the dotted line, according to two people close to the auction who were not authorized to comment.

    Paramount’s pressure campaign had been relentless, first winning over theater owners, who expressed alarm over Netflix’s business model that encourages consumers to watch movies in their homes.

    During the last two weeks, Sarandos got dragged into two ugly controversies.

    First, famed filmmaker James Cameron endorsed Paramount, saying a Netflix takeover would lead to massive job losses in the entertainment industry, which is already reeling from a production slowdown in Southern California that has disrupted the lives of thousands of film industry workers.

    Then, a week ago, Trump took aim at Netflix board member Susan Rice, a former high-level Obama and Biden administration official. In a social media post, Trump called Rice a “no talent … political hack,” and said that Netflix must fire her or “pay the consequences.”

    The threat underscored the dicey environment for Netflix.

    Additionally, Paramount had sowed doubts about Netflix among lawmakers, regulators, Warner investors and ultimately the Warner board.

    Paramount assured Warner board members that it had a clear path to win regulatory approval so the deal would quickly be finalized. In a show of confidence, Delrahim filed to win the Justice Department’s blessing in December — even though Paramount didn’t have a deal.

    This month, a deadline for the Justice Department to raise issues with Paramount’s proposed Warner takeover passed without comment from the Trump regulators.

    “Analysts believe the deal is likely to close,” TD Cowen analysts said in a Friday report. “While Paramount-WBD does present material antitrust risks (higher pay TV prices, lower pay for TV/movie workers), analysts also see a key pro-competitive effect: improved competition in streaming, with Paramount+ and HBO Max representing a materially stronger counterweight to #1 Netflix.”

    Throughout the battle, David Ellison relied on support from his father, attorney Delrahim, and three key board members: Oracle Executive Vice Chair Safra A. Catz; RedBird Capital Partners founder Gerry Cardinale; and Justin Hamill, managing director of tech investment firm Silver Lake.

    In the final days, David Ellison led an effort to flip Warner board members who had firmly supported Netflix. With Paramount’s improved offer, several began leaning toward the Paramount deal.

    On Tuesday, Warner announced that Paramount’s deal was promising.

    On Thursday, Warner’s board determined Paramount’s deal had topped Netflix. That’s when Netflix surrendered.

    “Paramount had a fulsome, 360-degree approach,” Miller said. “They approached it financially. … They understood the regulatory environment here and abroad in the EU. And they had a game plan for every aspect.”

    On Friday, Paramount shares rose 21% to $13.51.

    It was a reversal of fortunes for David Ellison, who appeared on CNBC just three days after that war room meeting in December.

    “We put the company in play,” David Ellison told the CNBC anchor that day. “We’re really here to finish what we started.”

    Times staff writer Ana Cabellos and Business Editor Richard Verrier contributed to this report.

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  • Target to stop selling cereals with synthetic colours – BBC

    Target to stop selling cereals with synthetic colours – BBC

    1. Target to stop selling cereals with synthetic colours  BBC
    2. Exclusive: Target to eliminate synthetic colors from cereal aisle  Axios
    3. Target announces major change to ALL cereal sold at its 2,000 stores  the-sun.com
    4. Roundup: Target / LSU and the Ten Commandments / Tariff refunds  Baton Rouge Business Report
    5. Target expands wellness push with dye-free cereals and broader assortment  eMarketer

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  • Bloomberg: Ed Huang on the Continued Growth in Asia

    Bloomberg: Ed Huang on the Continued Growth in Asia

    Our dedicated team works directly with private wealth managers, family offices and financial advisors to help their clients access alternative solutions.

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    Visit our dedicated site for financial advisors:

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  • Access Denied


    Access Denied

    You don’t have permission to access “http://www.paramount.com/press/paramount-to-acquire-warner-bros-discovery-to-form-next-generation-global-media-and-entertainment-company” on this server.

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  • Stock market news for Feb. 27, 2026

    Stock market news for Feb. 27, 2026

    Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., Feb. 27, 2026.

    Brendan McDermid | Reuters

    Stocks dropped on Friday after the latest producer price index data came in much hotter than expected, adding sticky inflation to a list of concerns that has caused market turbulence this month.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 521.28 points, or 1.05%, to close at 48,977.92. The S&P 500 closed down 0.43% at 6,878.88, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.92% to settle at 22,668.21.

    The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq finished in the red for February amid growing fears about the impact of artificial intelligence on specific industries and the overall economy. Those fears were exacerbated after Jack Dorsey’s fintech company Block said it’s laying off more than 4,000 employees — nearly half of its workforce. Stocks in the financial sector and other areas of the market tied to the economic cycle pulled back Friday.

    Stocks linked to private credit were under pressure again as investors anticipated that they could be potentially suffer as a result of UK mortgage provider Market Financial Solutions’ collapse. Apollo and Jefferies were among the laggards, dropping 8% and 10%, respectively. Shares of Blue Owl, which has been hit recently in the wake of its liquidity curbs and asset sale, fell 6%.

    Notable software names suffered losses as well Friday as they close out a terrible month. Salesforce tumbled 3%, while Microsoft retreated 2%, weighing on the Dow. Cybersecurity company Zscaler shed 13% after deferred revenue and billings in the fiscal second quarter missed expectations. CoreWeave fell 21% on disappointing guidance.

    Nvidia extended its post-earnings slide with a 3% fall Friday. The stock shed more than 5% on Thursday, a surprise to many investors who remain bullish on the chipmaker given its blowout fourth-quarter results and upcoming product cycle. Market participants attributed the decline in shares to doubts around Nvidia’s deal with OpenAI, weak sentiment over the AI trade and skepticism about whether hyperscalers’ lofty AI capital expenditures are sustainable.

    Fueling the downbeat sentiment, January’s producer price index — a measure of wholesale inflation — showed a 0.5% increase for the month. Economists polled by Dow Jones saw the headline reading coming in at 0.3%. Perhaps more concerning is that the core PPI reading, which excludes food and energy prices, recorded a 0.8% gain, much more than the 0.3% rise economists anticipated.

    Stephen Kolano, chief investment officer at Integrated Partners, views the PPI report as an additional complication for investors on top of the already-existing anxieties surrounding not just AI capex and the risk of its disruption to industries but also other factors such as stress in the private credit market. Noting that the inflation reading seems to be more services driven, he thinks it’s a sign companies are possibly starting to pass through the cost of tariffs to the end consumer in order to maintain their margins.

    “Inflation isn’t solved yet,” he said, adding that it creates this conundrum for the Federal Reserve of deciding whether to cut interest rates to spur growth or to hold steady to continue to fight inflation. “It just creates this uncertainty around which way is policy going to go in the remainder of the year.”

    That’s not to mention the state of the labor market as another worry, Kolano said. Even though job growth last month was much better than expected, the investment chief said he isn’t sure that the labor market is stabilizing given that layoffs have been picking up. In fact, Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported earlier this month that layoffs in January hit their highest total for that month since the global financial crisis.

    “I don’t see a clear sign that unemployment is not going to move higher just yet,” he said.

    The Nasdaq is on pace for a decline of more than 3% in February and its worst monthly performance since last March. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF (IGV) is down 10% for the month, bringing its year-to-date losses to 23%. The S&P 500, meanwhile, is on track for a more than 1% loss in February, while the Dow is on pace for a 0.2% decline.

    — CNBC’s Jeff Cox contributed reporting.

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  • AI is key driver behind layoffs at fintech company Block, CEO says

    AI is key driver behind layoffs at fintech company Block, CEO says

    BANGKOK (AP) — Shares in the financial technology company Block soared more than 20% in premarket trading Friday after its CEO announced it was laying off more than 4,000 of its 10,000 plus employees, reconfiguring to capitalize on its use of artificial intelligence.

    “The core thesis is simple. Intelligence tools have changed what it means to build and run a company,” Jack Dorsey said in a letter to shareholders in Block, the parent company to online payment platforms such as Square and Cash App. “A significantly smaller team, using the tools we’re building, can do more and do it better,” he said.

    READ MORE: Anthropic ‘cannot in good conscience accede’ to Pentagon’s demands, CEO says

    Dorsey’s comments explicitly naming AI as a key driver behind the move were also posted on X, or Twitter, a company he co-founded. The assertion that the job cuts will add to Block’s profitability and efficiency led investors to jump in and buy, analysts said.

    Block’s shares gained 5% Thursday to $54.53, before it reported its earnings. They shot up to nearly $69 in after-hours trading. The mobile payments services provider reported its fourth quarter gross profit jumped 24% from a year earlier.

    “For years, we have debated whether AI would dent jobs at the margin. Now we have a public case study in which the CEO explicitly says that intelligence tools have changed what it means to build and run a company,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary.

    READ MORE: Entertainment industry ramps up discussions about AI, creators and innovative tech at CES

    “Other large employers have announced tens of thousands of cuts in recent months. Some have downplayed the AI link. Block did not,” he said.

    A global technology company founded in 2009, San Francisco-based Block operates in the United States, Canada, parts of Europe, Australia and Japan.

    In a post on Twitter, Dorsey outlined various ways the company will support those laid off. For employees overseas, the terms might differ, he said.

    It was unclear which employees would be laid off where.

    Layoffs by American companies remain at relatively healthy levels, but the job cuts at Block are the latest among thousands announced in recent months.

    A number of other high-profile companies have announced layoffs recently, including UPS, Amazon, Dow and the Washington Post.

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  • Exclusive: Warner Bros signs $110 billion deal with Paramount, its executive discloses in townhall – Reuters

    1. Exclusive: Warner Bros signs $110 billion deal with Paramount, its executive discloses in townhall  Reuters
    2. Paramount set for $111bn Warner Bros takeover after Netflix drops bid  BBC
    3. With Trump’s apparent blessing, the Ellisons are amassing a media empire  CNN
    4. Netflix ditches deal for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount’s offer is deemed superior  CNBC
    5. Warner Bros gets a higher offer from Paramount in heated fight for the storied Hollywood studio  AP News

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  • Perioperative Enfortumab Vedotin Plus Pembrolizumab May Reduce Risk of Recurrence in Patients With Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer – The ASCO Post

    1. Perioperative Enfortumab Vedotin Plus Pembrolizumab May Reduce Risk of Recurrence in Patients With Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer  The ASCO Post
    2. Astellas says Padcev+Keytruda cuts risk of recurrence/death by nearly 50% in patients with bladder cancer  marketscreener.com
    3. Mayo Clinic expert highlights improved survival in muscle-invasive bladder cancer and kidney cancer  Mayo Clinic News Network
    4. Leslie Ballas, MD, highlights trial of risk-adapted bladder preservation in MIBC  Urology Times
    5. Padcev-Keytruda combo aces another bladder cancer trial as MIBC landscape becomes more complex  Fierce Pharma

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  • /C O R R E C T I O N — Booking Holdings/

    /C O R R E C T I O N — Booking Holdings/

    In the news release, Booking Holdings Inc. to Present at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, issued 27-Feb-2026 by Booking Holdings over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows, with additional details at the end:

    Booking Holdings Inc. to Present at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference

    NORWALK, Conn., Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG) today announced that Chief Financial Officer Ewout Steenbergen will participate in a fireside chat at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, held in San Francisco, on March 3, beginning at 4:05 pm PT / 7:05pm ET. A live audio cast of the presentation will be available to the public at https://ir.bookingholdings.com/events, and a replay will be available approximately 24 hours later.

    Source: Booking Holdings
    #BKNG_Corporate

    About Booking Holdings
    Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG) is the world’s leading provider of online travel and related services, provided to consumers and local partners in more than 220 countries and territories through five primary consumer-facing brands: Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, KAYAK and OpenTable. The mission of Booking Holdings is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. For more information, visit BookingHoldings.com and follow us on X @BookingHoldings.

    Correction: The time of the fireside chat has been updated to 4:05 pm PT / 7:05pm ET.

    SOURCE Booking Holdings

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