The stakes are high for the experimental Alzheimer's drug bapineuzumab, which analysts give a low chance of proving effective against the memory-stealing disease.

Vertex ($VRTX) has taken another step toward building a global franchise for treating cystic fibrosis. European regulatory advisers backed approval of the trailblazing drug Kalydeco for a subset of patients with the genetic disorder, paving the way for a likely go-ahead to market the drug in the EU.

GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) has shown in a series of M&A and investment moves that the London-based drug giant prefers to bet on known commodities--existing biotech partners. Bloomberg analyzed GSK's strategy and speculates that the company could pick one of its collaborators as a future buyout target.

Pfizer's pioneering rare-disease drug tafamidis garnered mixed reviews from FDA advisers Thursday, casting further uncertainty over whether the agency will green-light the treatment for the U.S. market.

The Senate's 96-1 vote in favor of renewing the law marks a victory for drug and device companies that bank on user fees to help fund regulatory reviews of their products.

The seventh-round financing is expected to fuel development of San Diego-based Sangart's treatments that deliver essential gases to embattled tissues.