Drug Discovery

Pfizer says BNT162b2 vaccine is effective against new Covid strains

Pfizer and BioNTech said that their Covid-19 vaccine BNT162b2 has been found to be effective against a key mutation found in two highly transmissible strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as per the results from an in vitro study.

Celularity and GX Acquisition announce merger agreement to create publicly listed leader in allogeneic cellular therapy

Celularity, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, leading the next evolution in cellular medicine with the development of off-the-shelf allogeneic therapies derived from the postpartum human placenta, and GX Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: GXGX), a special purpose acquisition company, today announced they have entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which GX Acquisition Corp. will combine with Celularity.

Affinivax secures $226m in Series C financing to boost MAPS vaccine pipeline

Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Affinivax has secured $226m in Series C financing to advance the development of new vaccines with its multiple antigen presenting system (MAPS) platform.

Bayer and CureVac collaborate on Covid-19 vaccine candidate

German pharmaceutical and life sciences company Bayer has entered into a collaboration and services agreement with biopharmaceutical firm CureVac on Covid-19 vaccine called CVnCoV.

Xencor, MD Anderson enter collaboration to develop novel T cell-engaging bispecific antibodies for potential treatment of cancer

Xencor and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announced a strategic research collaboration and commercialization agreement to develop novel CD3 bispecific antibody therapeutics for the potential treatment of patients with cancer.

Fujifilm to invest $2bn to build large-scale cell culture manufacturing site in US

Fujifilm is set to invest about $2bn to build a new large-scale cell culture production site for biopharmaceuticals in the US.

Angelini Pharma to buy Arvelle Therapeutics for up to $960m

Angelini Pharma has agreed to acquire Swiss biopharmaceutical company Arvelle Therapeutics in a deal valued up to $960m.

India gives restricted emergency use approval for two Covid-19 vaccines

India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has given the restricted emergency use approval for Covid-19 vaccines of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech.

Moderna in talks with South Korea to supply 40 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine

Biotechnology company Moderna is negotiating with the South Korean government to potentially provide 40 million or more doses of its vaccine against Covid-19.