Reports of bent needles and injector failures in auto-injectors filled with generics of multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone also raise questions about the FDA’s complex product approval process.

Newly public Aligos will team with Merck & Co. on oligonucleotide therapies for NASH. Maze Therapeutics launches ophthalmology and CV-focused spinouts with Alloy and BridgeBio.

Sandoz and Civica Rx have entered into a long-term collaboration to help mitigate medicine shortages in US hospitals, where Sandoz will supply six critical injectables and Civica will ensure reliable supply of these medicines to patients.

Coronavirus-induced stockpiling and advanced prescribing of medicines has resulted in generics companies across the world registering unprecedented growth during the first quarter of 2020. However, many companies predict sales will level off again in the next quarter and beyond. And as demand fluctuates following the COVID-19 outbreak, companies have started taking precautionary measures to avoid supply-chain disruptions.