BioCryst Ends Internal Programs; Biogen Cuts Apellis R&D Roles

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals is ending its internal research programs, and Biogen is shedding roles in the Apellis R&D unit, according to the latest entries in the Fierce Biotech Layoff Tracker for 2026. The tracker, which monitors workforce reductions across the biotechnology industry, added these two updates without specifying the number of employees affected or the exact timeline of the cuts.

The layoff tracker is a crowdsourced and editorially verified list. Fierce Biotech encourages readers to submit tips about undisclosed reductions at biotech companies.

These workforce reductions reflect ongoing cost-containment pressures in the biotech sector. Companies are frequently reassessing pipeline priorities and trimming staff in areas that no longer align with strategic goals. For BioCryst, ending internal programs suggests a pivot away from early-stage discovery, possibly to focus on its approved products or partnerships. For Biogen, cutting R&D roles at Apellis, a company it acquired in 2023, indicates continued portfolio rationalization following the merger. Such moves are common in an industry where capital efficiency and pipeline focus are critical to survival.

Source: original report