EQRx has raised at least $750m since it launched in January 2020 and will have $2bn to fund its ongoing development of low-cost drugs after merging with a special purpose acquisition corporation.

US FDA Oncology Center of Excellence Director Rick Pazdur says PD-1/L1 drugs are very similar and hypothesizes that when competitors show differing results in the same indication it's more about trial design than the drug. FDA oncology experts also weighed in on regulatory clearance of Chinese-developed checkpoint inhibitors and trial endpoints that have come under outside scrutiny.

Roche gives back choroideremia candidate to 4D Molecular after reviewing Phase I data, partners on synthetic GI therapy with Synlogic. AbbVie opts to acquire TeneoOne under 2019 agreement.

EQRx is one of several Western companies that have been looking to China for new PD-1 inhibitors at a lower cost.