Oct 28, 2025

I recently learned that during the latest round of ASEAN summitry in Malaysia, U.S. President Donald Trump made new deals in Southeast Asia. One of the key highlights was the signing of the “Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords” between Thailand and Cambodia, along with sectoral pacts with various Southeast Asian countries. Additionally, Malaysia and the United States upgraded their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, marking the first formal upgrade since 2014. The summit also saw announcements regarding Timor-Leste becoming ASEAN’s 11th member and the signing of a digital economic framework agreement.

In other news, Human Interest has sued rival Guideline over an alleged scheme involving corporate espionage. The lawsuit alleges that three brothers, two from Human Interest and one from Guideline, were involved in stealing confidential company information. The case includes allegations of breach of contract, breach of trade secret, computer fraud, and RICO violations. Human Interest has raised over $700 million, while Guideline has raised $340 million from VCs.

Furthermore, Janus Henderson has received a takeover offer from Nelson Peltz’s Trian Fund Management and General Catalyst, valuing the company at nearly $7.2 billion. This offer has added an interesting twist to the corporate landscape. Additionally, the market is abuzz with news of private equity deals involving Dr Pepper and other major players. The financial world seems to be buzzing with activity, from major acquisitions to allegations of corporate espionage.

Novartis has announced its plans to acquire Avidity Biosciences, a San Diego-based drugmaker focused on rare neuromuscular genetic disorders, for around $12 billion in cash. This acquisition is significant as it marks the largest of four billion-dollar-plus acquisitions made by Novartis in 2025. The company is increasing its focus on R&D; as some of its top drugs face competition from cheaper generic alternatives. This deal also marks the second-largest biotech merger of the year, following Johnson & Johnson’s acquisition of Intra-Cellular Therapies for $14.6 billion.

In other news, Hemab Therapeutics, a biotech company based in Copenhagen, Denmark, raised $157 million in Series C funding. Stardust Solutions, an Israeli solar geoengineering startup, raised $60 million in funding. Valthos, a biodefense startup in San Francisco, secured $30 million in seed funding. Cellcolabs, a Swedish startup focused on industrial-scale production of mesenchymal stem cells, raised $12 million from Titian Capital. These funding rounds indicate continued interest and investment in the biotech and healthcare sectors.

Stay Well!