There are more than twice as
many PDUFA dates this year than last - at least 40 vs. 17 - but only a handful
of potential approvals are drumming up interest among buysiders. Investors are
focusing on areas such as HCV, which is almost unanimously seen as maintaining
its momentum into 2012, while oral autoimmune therapies and selected cancer
products are also attracting attention.
According to buysiders, the
large number of compounds under review at FDA does not equate to a large
amount of excitement. Kurt von Emster of venBio described the PDUFA
dates for 2012 as having "marginal impact." OrbiMed's Sven Borho
echoed this, saying it is "not the greatest year" for approvals.