Ripples from the COVID-19 pandemic can be felt across Asia Pacific as investment from foreign firms into the region dropped by 45% from 2019 to 2020, and continued its decline in 2021 to 34%.

The path of spin-offs from loss-making biotech companies with weak investment propositions seems clouded with examples that often resulted in an appointment with the liquidator.

This week's roundup includes high-level appointments by Five Prime Therapeutics, Depomed and Gilead Sciences and board appointments by Verseon, Arix Bioscience, and Corbus Pharmaceuticals.

US Inhaled CNS drug biotech Alexza looks set to be acquired by Spain’s Ferrer, the licensee of its only marketed product Adasuve outside of the US, in an all-cash offer that includes contingent value rights.