The pharma industry has not had a smooth ride over the past 12 months, as high-profile drug scandals, medication shortages and debates over drug prices have dominated headlines, and thrown a wrench into the future plans of industry leaders.

In this special yearbook issue of Pharma Technology Focus, we take a look back at the biggest stories from 2019, from unlocking gut-based drug discovery to the costly impact of the Valsartan recall.

Also, we investigate the disappearance of pink Migraleve in the UK, discuss drug reform policy with psychedelics campaigner Amanda Feilding, and chart the EMA’s time in London now that the organisation has relocated to the Netherlands.

Plus, we sort through the myths and mysteries surrounding CBD, debate the case for and against a nationalised drug company in the UK, and find out more about how cancer cells communicate.

And finally, we investigate the rise of buyers clubs as patients fight to access lifesaving medication, ask if we are nearing the end of animal testing, and take a look at the latest innovation in targeted cancer treatment.

Eloise McLennan, editor