Phase III trials of a number of late-stage investigational therapies are expected to read out during the second quarter of 2021, according to new analysis from Informa Pharma’s product pipeline database Biomedtracker. Some of the Phase III data could be transforming for a few of the less grand players in the pharma sector and here Scrip picks out some of the highlights to look out for in the months ahead.

Private Company Edition: China-focused Nuance Pharma led recent venture capital deals with a $181m series D round, RayzeBio closed a $105m series B and SciNeuro launched with $100m plus other notable rounds from Edgewise, Reneo, BioAge and others.

Following the failure of PledOx, Pledpharma is joining forces with Rare Thyroid Therapeutics to target orphan treatments, initially focusing on the latter's investigational therapy for MCT8 deficiency.

Alexion thinks Dicerna’s RNAi technology could address complement-mediated conditions further upstream from antibodies like Soliris. AbbVie takes over CF collaboration with Galapagos, paying $45m up front.