Industry leaders share their expectations around COVID-19 for the coming year. Further product development and vaccine rollout will be key themes in 2021. Equitable supply and addressing the mental health challenges associated with lockdowns also loom large.

Public Company Edition: Three companies postponed or withdrew their offerings, but drug developers continue to pursue IPOs. Also, Biocon, BMS and Epizyme raised money through new debt, Five Prime capitalized on positive data and Synthetic Biologic engaged a strategic advisor.

Also, deals between Boehringer Ingelheim/Oxford BioTherapeutics, Bausch/Eyenovia, Ligand/HitGen, Moderna/Merck & Co., Vincera/Bayer, Genentech/Kineta, Selecta/IGAN, RedHill/AstraZeneca, Urovant/Sunovion, Biogen/Scribe, BridgeBio/Eidos, Elevar/Taiba

The two RNAi firms cross-license IP from their PH programs, while also partnering on a rare liver disease candidate. GSK invests $250m in Vir and will help to advance its antibody candidates for COVID-19.