Welcome to Inflection to Insight, a new series taking a closer look at notable chapters in biopharma history, gleaning learnings to inform current business strategy. This inaugural instalment looks at the rapid rise and fall of two competing drugs for hepatitis C virus, Vertex’s Incivek and Merck & Co’s Victrelis.

The biotech has persuaded its fellow Swiss firm that it can advance mavoglurant, a Novartis drug that has failed in Parkinson’s and Fragile X syndrome, for cocaine use and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Terray/Calico tie-up will focus on small molecule discovery for diseases of aging, including cancer. Lilly, AstraZeneca sign discovery pacts with Nimbus and Illumina, respectively.

Next month’s regular reimbursement price cut in Japan includes some large reductions for big-selling drugs, while one new rule has been applied for the first time.