Second-quarter earnings results from two of the Big Three – Teva and Mylan – hold much of the intrigue in August, while more competition in the nascent Avastin biosimilar market could materialize in Europe.

The first phase of a major trade agreement just signed by the US and China obliges the latter to implement a system linking pharma patent enforcement to marketing authorization procedures as well as to offer patent-term extensions. 

China was a focus of discussions at the 2020 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, as a Phase One trade agreement was signed to end a 17-month dispute with the US. Patent linkage and IP protection enforcement are also being closely watched, while Chinese firms including BeiGene continue to make strides in oncology deal-making.