Biotech sponsors understandably discuss accelerated approval as an important consideration in development plans. But the head of the US FDA oncology program has a reminder for them: the pathway is intended to serve patients – not drug companies.

With only weeks to go in 2022, the three major pharmas each had inked between 16 and 20 deals. Meanwhile, Pfizer has been less busy with 12 deals, but those include M&A totaling $18.2bn.

Eyestem founder and CEO talks to Scrip about progress made by the firm’s experimental treatment for dry age-related macular degeneration, cell and gene therapy pricing considerations and the wider competitive landscape. The company is also developing treatments for retinitis pigmentosa and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Final guidance targets the ‘multiplicity problem.’ At about half the length of the 2017 draft, the final removes some sections, truncates other and drops several examples.