Moderation was a theme of the year in novel approvals, as CDER’s median review time rose for the first time in five years and even the center’s fastest approval took more than seven months. A Pink Sheet infographic breaks down which review pathways did the best last year. 

Pfizer joined Novartis as the market leader in sickle cell disease when it acquired Global Blood Therapeutics last year. The US giant's Oxbryta may now move ahead following a clinical and regulatory setback for the Swiss major's Adakveo.

Investigational drugs from Outlook Therapeutics and Vertex/CRISPR could become first-of-their-kind products if they win marketing approval.

The UK biotech will use the funds to advance the development of its first-in-class ERAP1 inhibitor, which could circumvent the limitations of poor tumor visibility and T cell exhaustion.