GSK, Stealth BioTherapeutics and Blueprint Medicines discuss the difficulties getting participation of physicians, the excessive cost of expanded access, and whether physicians should report research data.

Investing in oncology has diminished as more focus goes to clinical-stage firms, while investment in preclinical companies in areas like neurology has been heating up.

After sales of the RET inhibitor have been commercially disappointing, Blueprint said it is selling US rights to the drug to Rigel for $15m up front and potentially more than $100m in milestones.

Confidence in growing in-house commercial capabilities has recently prompted several Chinese pharmas, including Simcere and 3SBio, to focus on obtaining domestic rights to novel drug assets developed by other China-based biotechs, rather than pursuing international deals.