After an extraordinary year that saw demand patterns and the supply chain upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a major merger that has transformed one of the global off-patent industry’s biggest players, Generics Bulletin’s Top 50 has once again seen significant changes.

US FDA’s marquee expedited review program added 15 new breakthrough therapy designations between June and August.

The tax reform windfall makes an already strong fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial report more impressive for AbbVie, which reported continuing growth for Humira and Imbruvica, and a big uptick in HCV.

A review of biopharma startup dealmaking and financing activity from January through March 2017, based on data from Strategic Transactions, showed a 19% decline in startup financing compared with the fourth quarter of 2016, but big pharmas provided capital in the form of alliance fees.