Last year AstraZeneca's ($AZN) MedImmune did about 20 biologics deals, not counting the academic pacts it assembled. This year, MedImmune R&D chief Bahija Jallal tells me, there will be no letup in talent scouting. "If we do as little or more than last year," says Jallal, "I would be happy."
Echoing late-stage R&D chief Briggs Morrison--who spoke with me at BIO last week--Jallal singled out cardiovascular/metabolics, respiratory and cancer as key fields for new deals. She noted particular interest in brown fat, a focus for weight-loss fans, and immunotherapeutics, which has emerged as one of the hottest sectors in oncology R&D.