A Pink Sheet analysis finds US approval preceded European Union clearance for 80% of products approved in both areas, but when EU approval came first, it beat the FDA by a median of 13 months. US-first approvals came close to six months before the EU.

With big pharma on a radiopharmaceuticals buying spree, New York-based Actinium Pharmaceuticals has been pointed to as the next potential takeout target.

BMS partners with Repertoire and Scenic, plus deals involving: G1/Pepper, Harmony/Epygenix, Biodexa/Emtora, Regeneron/Mammoth, Vertex/Treefrog and Immedica/KKR/Impilo.

The numbers may be down, but Europeans will in future be able to gain access to a number of highly innovative medicines, including several products for hard-to-treat cancers, a gene therapy for severe and moderately severe hemophilia B, and two vaccines against disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus.