With Merck's Keytruda on top of the world and setting the standard for PD-1/L1 lung cancer data, Roche and Bristol defended the programs for their competing Tecentriq and Opdivo during ASCO investor events.

As results for KEYNOTE-042 are reported at ASCO, Merck's Roy Baynes says Keytruda plus chemotherapy is the standard of care in first-line non-small cell lung cancer, but Keytruda monotherapy is an option for those who don't tolerate chemo well and/or don't have very active disease.

An autologous CAR-T therapy in development by Janssen and Legend Biotech is expected to kick-off US clinical studies in the second half of 2018, adding to the race to apply the new technology to multiple myeloma.

FDA approved the JAK inhibitor as the first oral medicine for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, providing Pfizer with fertile new commercial ground for the blockbuster drug.

Last year, 187 deals took place in the pharma services realm, each one molding the acquisitive company into a slightly different shape to reflect the current needs of the pharmaceutical industry. One imperative continued to drive more large deals than all others: data.

Positive top-line Phase III results have been released on the use of Sanofi/Regeneron's Dupixent in adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, adding to the evidence supporting its use in adults.