Small-to-medium-sized companies launching their first or one of their only commercial products faced a particular difficult time during the pandemic. In the second quarter earnings calls, some of these SMEs are seeing momentum as the most serious COVID headwinds resolve but others are contending with ongoing challenges. [Check back tomorrow for Part 2 on companies experiencing continuing challenges.]

Regeneron's COVID-19 antibody cocktail helped drive 38% growth for the company, while Global Blood Therapeutics' Oxbryta continues to face headwinds and Horizon focuses on relaunches.

Building on Oxbryta, which is already approved in the US for the rare blood disorder, Global Blood Therapeutics has licensed two sickle cell disease programs from Sanofi.

There is one orphan drug among the five new marketing authorization applications that the European Medicines Agency has under review. All five drugs will be reviewed under standard review timelines.