Development Versus Dealmaking: How To Obtain A Blockbuster

Most of the companies with blockbuster drugs approved over the past decade oversaw their clinical development internally. Lilly holds the lead with eight blockbusters developed in-house.  

Discovery Versus Dealmaking
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Considering that an actual or potential blockbuster developed by a smaller biotech is catnip to big pharma, obtaining a blockbuster by buying it might be expected to be the most common strategy. But according to data from Evaluate Pharma, only 81 companies with blockbusters gained them through dealmaking – at least when the parameters are limited to clinical stages.

Meanwhile, 105 drug companies either discovered blockbusters internally or bought them before clinical trials had started. Many companies that developed blockbusters in-house are big pharmas or big biotechs, including big...

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