I don't know the details about patent protection in medical field, so I can't comment on "the patent clock ticking". However, the first approval makes the drug available off label for other indications. And they are not in better position now, have only one p3 approval for Bavi in NSCLC, could probably had the same for breast cancer a couple of years ago. Bavi is also about saving lives, you don't postpone a life saving drug to go "in rapid fire succession".