The bivalent vaccine is likely to get regulatory support, along with government contracts, but competitors, notably Moderna, will also step into the ring.

The FDA approved Tafinlar/Mekinist for BRAF V600E-mutated solid tumors, based in part on a Phase II basket trial studying more than two dozen drugs across dozens of cancers based on genetic testing.

Higher dose or adjuvanted seasonal flu vaccines – Fluzone, Fluad and Flubok – provide benefit over other vaccines for older adults, advisory committee concludes. Merck’s PCV15 pneumococcal vaccine and GSK’s Priorix MMR vaccine are recommended for pediatric use by ACIP.

Companies such as Novartis, Roche or Takeda are heavily invested in the advanced therapeutics field, usually spreading their bets across multiple modalities. The remaining challenges offer opportunities for the next wave of innovation to transform the field once again and make a dent in the larger market of common diseases and solid tumors.