Deal-making between big pharma and biotech looks set to rise with a looming patent cliff increasing the need for the former to replenish its pipelines. Meanwhile, biotechs need partners to help them advance amid the ongoing big freeze on raising cash on public markets.

Plus deals involving Takeda/Zedira/Dr. Falk, Lupin/Sunovion, Eucure/Syncromune, Hetero/Johnson & Johnson, Nitto Denko/Omega, Harbour BioMed/CSPC and Pregene/Bone Therapeutics.

The main Japanese pharma players report a generally strong fiscal Q1, helped by mainstays including Daiichi Sankyo's Enhertu, Astellas's Xtandi and Padcev and Chugai's Actemra, and in some cases by the weaker yen. 

Eisai has decided to shut down its US oncology research operation H3 by September in the course of restructuring its global R&D organization. The majority of H3 employees will be laid off as Eisai Inc. and new organization DHBL absorb its functions and assets. Meanwhile another Japanese pharma firm, Astellas, builds up its US R&D footprint.