Expanded technological capabilities, narrowed focus on alternative dosage forms and harder-to-replicate products, and growing international reach are among the strategies being employed by Teva, Mylan and Watson in the face of 2013’s anticipated reverse patent cliff.

Most of the top 20 generic drug makers are subsidiaries of diversified pharmas or smaller generics-only plays based in the Far East. But diversification, although long a goal, is now urgent for the three major independent generic firms – Teva, Mylan and Watson.

Intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid, which mimics the lubricating properties of natural synovial fluid and lessens friction and pain in the osteoarthritic knee joint, has become increasingly popular for treating osteoarthritis. However, of the seven formulations available in the US, none have been proven clinically superior and they have only limited long-term benefit to the patient. Flex Biomedical Inc. is working to address these concerns with a single-injection synthetic polymer alternative to HA.

Biopharma financings slumped in the third quarter of 2010 - the $1.69 billion raised in Q3 was about half of Q2's $3.37 billion. Most of the third quarter money came from VC rounds. Two-thirds of the M&A total came from J&J's $2.2 billion purchase of the 82.1% of Crucell that it didn't already own. And following a long stretch in which earlier-stage assets were grabbing the largest deal values, Q3's biopharma alliances proved the contrary - the majority of the biggest moneymakers were for Phase II and higher therapeutics.