A Phase III rare-disease hit for Sanofi marks the first of a number of orphan drug read-outs expected in the coming year.

Philadelphia is due to host the American Heart Association (AHA) meeting for the first time from 16-18 November, with the conference taking place in its condensed three-day format for just the second time. Scrip takes a look at the expected highlights.

Shares plummet as ObsEva announces it is discontinuing its IVF program for nolasiban after disappointing Phase III data from a European confirmatory study.

Roche has paid $200m up front to get its hands on Dicerna’s RNAi-based drug for chronic hepatitis B in a deal that could be worth around $1.5bn.

The roller coaster ride for Novartis with its high-profile gene therapy Zolgensma continues as the FDA places a partial hold on trials of an intrathecal version aimed at older SMA patients on the back of nerve inflammation seen in a preclinical study.

Results from two studies at ESMO point to a targeted future for cholangiocarinoma with Agios and Incyte both planning year-end FDA filings in different patient subsets.