Executives share their expectations and hopes around the multi-faceted topic of patient access to medicines. From health inequities to value assessment and reimbursement trends, expectations for change abound.

Daily round-up from the virtual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference: Novartis explains its PD-1 deal; Biogen partners with Apple; Sanofi and Merck discuss business development priorities; and why AbbVie is confident it can grow without relying on deals. 

A Biden Administration with near-term priorities other than drug pricing and a Republican-controlled Senate dedicated to blocking any legislation that would enact government price controls is a relatively positive outcome for industry.

Worst case scenario is civil unrest that might disrupt clinical trials and manufacturing. Under a more moderate scenario, companies must delay business planning because the US policy environment remains cloudy.

The global health crisis has presented a chance for the industry to improve its reputation by highlighting the value of its R&D engines. Pharma execs and observers talk to Scrip about why they are optimistic about industry’s chance to regain public trust.

Mylan’s proposed $12bn combination with Pfizer’s Upjohn unit is expected to close next month following a settlement agreement with the FTC, with a requirement to address competition concerns in ten markets. The FTC was however strongly divided on the deal, with dissenters labelling the directives of the Commission as “deeply flawed, favoring routine over rigor.”

South Korea approves AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 Vaccine, while Actemra moves forward in Japan after local study results.

Gilead and Roche ended the year involved in three novel agents apiece, thanks to a combination of internal research and external licensing. 

Johnson & Johnson's vaccine produced a significantly lower efficacy readout than the mRNA frontrunners, but its success in preventing severe disease with one dose will be a gamechanger, if approved.

With an approval nod from the EMA’s scientific committee for its fish oil product Vazkepa, launch plans for the EU for this “multi-billion dollar” opportunity are on track, says Amarin CEO.

Even analysts who still doubt the FDA will approve the anti-amyloid antibody as the first disease-modifying Alzheimer’s treatment said aducanumab’s likelihood of approval has improved.

A conditional marketing authorization for AstraZeneca/Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine came just hours after the European Medicines Agency’s CHMP voted unanimously to recommend it on Friday.