Biotech tried to show that a core inhibitor combined with standard hepatitis B therapy could yield lasting benefit after treatment. Vebicorvir will continue to be studied as a chronic treatment in HBV.

While the legal woes over the seeds giant Monsanto continue, the German group's pharmaceuticals business posts unspectacular third quarter results.

Shanghai Henlius Biotech and Accord Healthcare have broadened their collaboration on trastuzumab, with the Chinese company licensing its Zercepac biosimilar to Accord in the US and Canada. Meanwhile, Accord has launched a Pelgraz pegfilgrastim pre-filled injector and patient app in the UK.

Accord has launched its first monoclonal antibody biosimilar and fourth biosimilar overall, introducing in the UK the Zercepac version of trastuzumab developed by China’s Shanghai Henlius Biotech.