The 19 breakthrough therapy designations awarded so far this year run the gamut from areas that traditionally have not fared well with BTDs, like cardiovascular and respiratory disease, alongside the traditional cancer and orphan disease tentpoles.

Eisai is testing its anti-tau antibody in combination with the anti-amyloid therapy Leqembi, and earlier-stage programs targeting TrkA, EphA4 and TREM2 offer new approaches and combo potential.

What is the difference between companies with franchises that rise and then fall into obscurity, and those that keep on rising even after loss of exclusivity?

The second week of first-quarter earnings featured AbbVie’s announcement and a harsh stock price reaction. There were also far-reaching implications behind the results.