With goal dates for almost 40 novel drugs and biologics coming up in the second half of 2020 after a record number of first half approvals, even the pandemic looks unlikely to prevent another solid year for innovative drugs at US FDA.

China's centralized procurement scheme, if further expanded after causing the prices of 32 drugs to be cut by more than half in the latest round, will leave companies no room to breathe easy amid the already devastating coronavirus outbreak, analysts say.

Deal news from Strides Pharma, Pharmaceutics Intl., Cipla, Wanbury, AstraZeneca, Syntekabio, Arctoris, Mundipharma, Samsung Bioepis…

Almost 50 novel agents are already under review at FDA for potential 2020 approval. Candidates are notably diverse, with concentrations in established strongholds (oncology, neuroscience), popular programs (breakthrough), and powerhouse sponsors (keep an eye on Bristol-Myers Squibb right out of the gate).