Here are the editors' top picks for the week ended March 30.

Japan's Takeda eyes Shire in bid to expand drug portfolio, U.S. reach

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. said the consideration is at a "preliminary and exploratory stage," and the company has not reached out to Shire PLC's board.

Pfizer unit left open to private equity bids as GSK buys Novartis' JV stake

GlaxoSmithKline PLC's decision not to bid for Pfizer Inc.'s consumer healthcare business has left the U.S. pharma giant without an obvious industry suitor and vulnerable to private equity bids, following a record year for U.S. deal-making in 2017.

Novartis' $13B influx may go to bolt-on deals as late-stage drugs reach market

Two months into the reign of its new CEO, Novartis AG is out of the consumer business and has $13 billion more on the balance sheet for potential new ventures.

Texas, groups await federal decision on controversial Medicaid proposal

Texas is waiting for a federal decision that would allow it to get tens of millions in Medicaid funds, despite barring money from going to Planned Parenthood.

After triumphant year, FDA chief sets sights on making biosimilars a success

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb saw an extraordinarily triumphant first year, setting records with new and generic drug approvals. Now, he wants to make biosimilars a success, though that road is apt to be slower.

Takeda pursues alliances, R&D revamp in bid to go global

Japan's largest pharmaceutical company began 2018 with a flurry of dealmaking that reflects a mission to reverse years of stagnant growth by becoming a global force through R&D transformation.

TxCell targets inflammation with twist on T cell therapy

TxCell is in the crosshairs of two very hot sectors with a gene-engineering therapy that suppresses the immune system rather than boosting it.

Hospitals see signs referral law may be changed to enable doctor incentives

The Trump administration is considering loosening restrictions on physician referrals to hospitals, a move that would enable hospitals to reward doctors for providing more efficient care.

Capitol Checkup: Pharma influence peddling; ACA turns 8; senator's sly try

Americans say drugmakers have more influence on Capitol Hill than the gun lobby; the Affordable Care Act turned 8 years old; and a senator tried to sneak the House-passed right-to-try bill in for a quick vote before the Senate's spring break.

Celgene's neurology venture the latest strategy for revenue after Revlimid

After a string of setbacks that hit its stock price, the U.S. drugmaker is expanding its search for the next blockbuster medicine to new therapy areas.

Healthcare's inefficiences make sector appealing to private equity

Announced private equity and venture capital U.S. healthcare deals reached an all-time high in terms of number of deals in 2017, with 128 deals valued at approximately $14.2 billion announced last year, S&P Global Market Intelligence data shows.

Sanofi R&D head plans to seek Dengvaxia US approval with diagnostic test

Sanofi's global head of R&D, Elias Zerhouni, said the Paris-based drugmaker is working on diagnostic tests to accompany a possible application for U.S. regulatory approval of its Dengvaxia vaccine.