Astellas’ chief strategy officer, Adam Pearson, talks to Scrip about the company’s launch execution thrust for key therapies ahead of the loss of exclusivity for Xtandi and also deal-making appetite and choices, including the Iveric Bio buyout and walking away from the collaboration with Cartesian Therapeutics.

The venture capital firm is putting $210m into NSCLC trials for the antibody drug conjugate – with an opportunity in patients who fail on first line immunotherapy the most likely target.

The European Medicines Agency has OKd two new H5N1 jabs, including a pandemic preparedness vaccine intended for use only if a flu pandemic is declared. Eight other products are also heading for EU-wide approval.

The anti-C5 inhibitor sets an example of swift global trial and approval in China while fiercer competition awaits in the US, Europe and Japan.