In this week's podcast version of Five Must-Know Things: Merck & Co. tells Scrip oncology will remain a key priority; J&J is responsibly cautious on growth; Takeda pays big for HutchMed drug; industry looks at likely US IRA impact; and lecanemab misses out on EU fast-track treatment.

The Japanese pharma agreed to pay $400m up front plus up to $730m in milestones for a colorectal cancer drug already on the market in China and nearing regulatory filings in the US, EU and Japan.

From 2013 to November 2022, Chinese pharma companies as a single sponsor started a total of 35 international Phase III clinical studies for innovative drugs in the US, indicating a continuing push by the biopharma sector in the country to leverage increasing innovation to access this huge and lucrative market. Led by BeiGene, 20 firms have placed their bets on such studies and some are planning similar new moves despite an ongoing downturn in industry funding, this infographic analysis shows.

Led by BeiGene, 20 firms have placed their bets on Phase III clinical studies for innovative drugs in the US and some are planning similar new moves despite an ongoing downturn in industry funding, this infographic analysis shows.