The first HIV single-tablet regimen anchored by a protease inhibitor, Symtuza’s prospects are challenged by competitors already on the market and treatment guidelines that prefer integrase inhibitor regimens.

The Swiss major is very happy indeed with the growth trajectory of Cosentyx and Entresto and pleased with how its migraine drug Aimovig has started. However the revelation of manufacturing problems with its CAR-T therapy Kymriah marred Novartis' second-quarter results.

CFOs are known for talking about their top and bottom lines, but not so much about what makes them tick. Here we give you a peek into the life story of Lupin CFO Ramesh Swaminathan, who shares with Scrip why he made the shift from Henkel in Germany to the Indian firm, M&A learnings, admiration for peer Sun Pharma and his own career ambitions.

Takeda and Norgine’s decision to finally end their alliance for cetilistat in Japan, years after the obesity drug was approved in its first potential market, serves as another sign of the sector’s challenges in the country.

J&J told investors to anticipate negative net drug pricing of 4%-6% across its portfolio in 2018, following a 4.6% negative impact in 2017. CEO Alex Gorsky also cautioned against changing drug pricing policy too quickly.

With biopharma venture capital investment of $9.67bn during the first half, 2018's total is on track to beat 2017 in the third quarter. IPOs, one of the factors fueling VC investment, continue to boom with five more drug developers slated to go public this week.

South Korea moves to support open innovation in the pharma and biotech industries, and to raise global competitiveness of biotech clusters in the country, in an effort to catch up with major overseas bio hubs such as the Boston Biotech Cluster.

Siga is entitled to a $41m “hold back” payment under its contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority and potentially a $50m payment related to the US FDA's extended shelf-life determination for stockpiled Tpoxx; company also picks up first priority review voucher awarded for a medical countermeasure, which it likely will monetize.

Bagging a $200m box office in its opening week in China, "Dying to Survive" is a sentimental movie about a Chinese businessman selling cancer drugs smuggled from India but unapproved in China that sees his life taking a drastic turn, from convicted felon to a Robin Hood-like hero as he helps those in need. The Chinese film authority’s clearance for the screening of the movie and the smash success signal three key messages about the future potential direction of oncology drugs in the country.

Takeda and partner Ovid are planning new trials in rare pediatric indications for their first-in-class epilepsy drug, including in the increasingly competitive area of Dravet syndrome.

A patient death in a Phase I dose-escalation study of XMT-1522 in patients with HER2-expressing tumors rattled investors, but CEO Protopapas said it is not clear what the cause of death was in the very sick patient and that Mersana is working closely with the FDA.

Executive Interview: A raft of clinical trial results are expected in the second half of 2018 for Bone Therapeutics' regenerative cell therapy approach to hip osteonecrosis and delayed-union fractures.