As sponsors explore development in autoimmune and infectious diseases, plus a range of hematologic and solid tumors, manufacturing processes can be centralized or decentralized, but Marks says the FDA is ‘neutral’ on that decision.

The voluntary withdrawal of the license for the UK major's COVID-19 vaccine is due to a surplus of available updated jabs from other companies that target new variants and is not connected to the mis- and disinformation being peddled on the internet and elsewhere on very rare adverse events.

The FTC is intensifying its crackdown on pharmaceutical companies' misuse of patent listings as industry seeks clearer guidelines.

Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty toppled after recording the highest ever annual sales for a pharmaceutical in 2022, while Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic climbed rapidly. But Merck & Co’s immuno-oncology blockbuster Keytruda was secure in the number one spot in 2023 as COVID-19 receded.