Entasis is hoping for a pathogen- rather than location-specific indication for sulbactam-durlobactam (SUL-DUR) in the US. Gilead’s Veklury remains a standard-of-care COVID-19 treatment. Summit claims further analysis of failed ridinilazole Phase III study shows recurrence advantage versus vancomycin.

Public Company Edition: Direct Biologics, YishengBio and Estrella Biopharma will go public by merging with special purpose acquisition corporations. Also, Vir lands a government contract worth up to $1bn, Idorsia raises CHF164m ($167.4m) in a real estate deal and Adamis reviews alternatives.

Good news in the biopharma industry and the US economy gave public drug developers the boost they needed to raise cash, including Karuna’s $750m offering. Private company financings slowed during the second week of August, but Prellis and Vector BioPharma raised venture capital.

The Belgian firm has the go-ahead from the US FDA for an advanced depression program for ANT-01 including the endpoint of improvement in cognitive function, which could differentiate its label.