Unexpected protocol changes and a single-blind design for a Phase III head-to-head trial seem to have played to the advantage of Junshi’s oral derivative of Gilead’s antiviral remdesivir in COVID-19.

Simcere is weighing options for SIM0417 in a Phase I trial in China as the first major domestically-developed potential rival to Pfizer’s oral COVID-19 antiviral Paxlovid. The study is likely to include wider patient groups ranging from those without symptoms to severe patients.

Pfizer gets European Commission approval for Paxlovid after a positive CHMP opinion, while Moderna started a Phase II study of its Omicron-specific vaccine candidate. Meanwhile, China's Junshi enters into a new oral antiviral collaboration while Daiichi Sankyo investigates its mRNA vaccine contender as a booster shot.

Athenex expands its portfolio of T-cell receptor therapy technology under NCI license agreement; PDS Biotechnology accesses institute’s TARP tumor antigen technology.