NASH has become a major therapeutic focus for pharma firms in South Korea, where companies are speeding up development and expanding their pipelines after Yuhan’s sizable global license deals last year.

Takeda’s collaboration with the private UK biotech includes NASH and other liver disorders. Reliance will take on Amazon in the India pharmacy space with acquisition of Netmeds.

Glenmark reports challenging first quarter across key markets amid the pandemic, with US momentum impacted in part by pricing pressure in the dermatology segment. New product flows could restore uptick in that market, though US approval for rhinitis therapy Ryaltris is anticipated only in the second half of 2021.

Signs that BNT162b2 could be more effective in older age groups led companies to switch lead candidates, and they now head into a pivotal late-stage study.