Only nine weeks after US approval, Trikafta, which in theory can treat 90% of all patients with cystic fibrosis, is already Vertex's top-selling medicine.

Growth gaps and a desire to concentrate on a small number of therapeutic areas are expected to continue to drive M&A in 2020, but thought needs to be given to investing in data-driven and digital technologies, a new EY report says.

Given the transformative nature of regenerative medicines, treatments yielding greatly improved patient responses that now exist as viable products on the market, cell and gene drug developers over the past several years have been drawing deal attention. Not only through collaborative partnerships, but also as acquisition targets.

A review of biopharma start-up dealmaking and financing activity from July through September 2019, based on data from Strategic Transactions. Fundraising activity fell 23% from the second to the third quarter, but start-up M&A surged, led by Vertex's acquisition of Semma.