The still somewhat loosely defined concept of 'digital health' continues to take concrete forms through recent deals in Japan, where major pharma firms are building initiatives related mainly to patient well-being.

As the pharmaceutical industry works to manage big data, improve the way drugs are used and delivered, and expand services to patients, industry is working increasingly with non-traditional partners.

Deal activity over the past seven days sees Roche knock back Inovio a second time, Regeneron plan for its future via an alliance with Adicet Bio, Amgen supplement its preclinical pipeline with a candidate from Advaxis, and Pfizer shore up its gene therapy ambitions with an acquisition.