ENA Respiratory expects its "preventive" nasal spray, which primes innate immunity against respiratory viruses including SARS-CoV-2, to play a meaningful role in protecting at-risk populations and lowering community transmission of COVID-19. It plans to explore the potential of the broad-spectrum antiviral immunomodulator in other areas, including COPD, and wider partnering opportunities.

Panel discussion illustrated how decentralized approaches can expand the possibilities of studies in rare diseases, such as cancers with rare genomic alterations.

Argenx partners with Elektrofi and Iontas; China’s Qilu obtains global rights to Peptron’s antibody-drug conjugate and also ends co-development pact with Quantum Genomics.

Private equity group Carlyle has acquired 20% of Piramal's pharma business for close to $500m, with the Indian group expected to use the capital raise to bolster organic and inorganic growth and deleverage the balance sheet.