Our look back at 2016 and at prospects for the year ahead plots a rush of often conflicting head and tail winds, all requiring unrelenting focus from the C-suite on what matters to preserving pharma's vital public license to operate. Events in the sales-leading US market remain the key driver of change and a test ground for managing the competitive and reputational challenges industry faces from a more restive – and powerful – customer base.

Precision medicine is significantly impacting pharma dealmaking, R&D and market access, according to a new report from Datamonitor Healthcare.

The number of drug candidates in development for Alzheimer's is at its highest-ever level and despite the lack of success to date, biopharma companies continue to believe the potential rewards are worth the risk. As R&D in the field accelerates, therapies that treat not only symptoms of the disease but also slow its progression are expected to arrive sooner rather than later.