US Biotechs Assign European Marketing Rights

US biotech companies that retain the right to market their own products in Europe are increasingly assigning those rights to other parties, saying they prefer to be realistic rather than naïvely optimistic. Differences in language, culture, regulatory requirements, marketing and sales practices and prescribing practices make building a European marketing operation a challenge that isn't necessarily worth the time, energy and money—no matter how appealing the notion of becoming an international corporation.

But that doesn't necessarily mean they'll sign up with mid-sized European firms for partnerships. Instead, they seem to be turning...