Compounding carryover money runs out, crippling some activities although inspections will continue; countdown to the end of PDUFA fee balance continues.

Past year was the high-water mark for product approvals and launches, but complete response letters remain a frequent occurrence. FDA’s ability to deliver on its promise of further clarity on transition products, interchangeability and indication carve-outs/carve-ins may take a hit from the ongoing partial government shutdown. On the legal side, look for more patent settlements with staggered entry dates and new antitrust scrutiny.

Limiting interactions to two-dimensional settings will hinder collaboration, innovation and the mentoring of younger employees, Merck & Co. CEO Kenneth Frazier says. Frazier, who will retire in June, is looking forward to returning to public service but says "politics with a capital P is not my thing."