Japan’s fast-track approval system for innovative drug candidates has marked its seventh year since launch, during which it has accepted 27 candidates with 13 of these moving to approval. But in recent years the system has faced a decreasing number of admitted candidates, this original infographic analysis shows.

India’s national list of essential medicines 2022 features 34 additions, including insulin glargine, teneligliptin, lenalidomide, bedaquiline and montelukast, with price control expected to follow on these drugs.

Edwards Lifesciences is ramping up US commercialization of its Pascal Precision mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair device, the first US competitor for Abbott’s MitraClip. The FDA approved Pascal Precision earlier than the company expected, based on results of the CLASP IID trial.

Results of the CLASP IID trial showed Edwards’ Pascal mitral valve repair system was non-inferior for safety and effectiveness compared to Abbott’s MitraClip device.