The acquisition of Mariana will complement Novartis’s lutetium-based radioligand therapies with candidates using actinium. Lilly, Bristol and AstraZeneca all have made recent high-priced buys in the space.

The weak yen helped push up both global revenues and costs for major Japanese firms in the fiscal year ended 31 March, while good mainstay growth benefited Daiichi Sankyo and Astellas. Chugai meanwhile had a challenging start to its calendar financial year due to lower pandemic drug stockpiling.

Newron’s evenamide worked in a Phase II/III trial as an add-on to antipsychotic drugs in patients with inadequate response to monotherapy at a time when schizophrenia has piqued the interest of big pharma.

The authorized generic also could mitigate the impact of eliminating the cap on Medicaid price inflation rebates, which went into effect in January.