Last year, the European Commission approved a record 55 therapies containing a new active substance, including 21 medicines for rare diseases. Among them were a number of gene therapies for indications such as cancer and hemophilia.

Digital maturity of clinical operations at several big pharma firms varies significantly with the gap between best-in-class and the industry average narrowest for site selection tools, recruitment capabilities, and automation, a study has indicated. Digital patient experience tools figure among the least mature capabilities.

Already selling at a run rate above $2bn annually, AbbVie predicts the atypical antipsychotic could reach the $4bn mark with a new US indication for adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder.

The firms unveiled positive Phase III data from their respective assets for treating the agitation seen in Alzheimer’s disease with Lundbeck’s candidate set to become first-to-market for the challenging behavioral symptom.