A composition of matter patent for the Novartis MS drug Gilenya expires in 2019, but a recent inter partes review decision upheld a dosing patent that doesn't expire until 2027. However, analysts also touted the victory as a big win for Celgene and its competing S1P modulator ozanimod.

Analysts generally were not surprised that Imbruvica plus R-CHOP did not provide a significant benefit versus R-CHOP alone in a hard-to-treat type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The failure leaves an opening for competitors, such as Celgene's Revlimid, which will soon have data in this indication.

Private Company Edition: I-Mab's $220m Series C round continued the trend of big investments in companies focused on or headquartered in China. Also, Shanghai-based Nuance brought in a combined $35m and European firms dominated recent small financings as US VC deals took a summer break.

Public Company Edition: Long-struggling Regulus is laying off employees and pausing its two clinical programs. Also, Ironwood is shuffling staff ahead of splitting into two companies and will cut 40 jobs in the process. And among several loan agreements and note sales, Tesaro borrows another $200m.

Returns for the 36 biopharma firms that went public in the first half of 2018 – including 14 in June alone – averaged 20.9%, stabilizing after a dip earlier in the year. But while drug developer returns have been on a rollercoaster ride, they're doing better than broader stock indices.

The company shifted attention in March from its big acne setback to its mid-year Qbrexza approval, so with a recent FDA nod for the hyperhidrosis treatment, Dermira will fill out its sales team and make the topical product for excessive underarm sweating available in October.