Among the latest financing deals, advanced therapeutics such as cell and gene therapies (CGT) continued enjoying the spotlight from venture capital and private equity investors in China. Meanwhile, small molecules with novel mechanism of action such as molecule glue stood out from their peers to win investors’ favor.

Japan's SCARDA is building networks with academia and industry to support new vaccine development, while offering support through funding and knowledge. But is that enough to overcome the shortcomings highlighted by the pandemic?

Private Company Edition: After just seven venture capital rounds of $100m or more in January and February, five have been announced already in March, including a $200m series A round for Cargo Therapeutics, Chroma Medicine’s $135m series B financing and $112m for Noema’s series B.

The list including eight types of diseases such as flu and coronavirus infection, smallpox will be sent to SCARDA to determine which domestic vaccine development projects by pharmaceutical firms are to be funded. Some participants at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s discussion insisted on continuous monitoring.