Mersana signs its third ADC partnership with big pharmas for the year with Merck agreement. Lilly expands its RNA editing partnership with ProQR, which now has the potential to earn an additional $2.5bn. Novartis continues its divestment efforts in deals with Harrow, Erasca.

Failure of pherine nasal spray candidate in first of two Phase III trials for social anxiety disorder puts program in doubt, while the California biotech’s share price craters.

It remains unclear what impact the consolidation within the drug-distribution sector may have on pricing. Pfizer partners with France’s Cytoo for its new gene therapy approach to DMD, while Gilead teams with Precision BioSciences for its goal to cure HBV.

Irish biotech focused on Endobody vaccine candidates partners with Boston U. in CTE and U. of Texas in Alzheimer’s. Lupus Research Alliance affiliate will help Bristol conduct a Phase II trial of Tyk2 inhibitor in lupus.