Private Company Edition: Amylyx will use its new cash to run a Phase III trial and submit applications seeking EU and Canadian approvals of AMX0035, but US filing plans based on prior Phase II/III data are less clear. Also, three VC firms raised new funds targeting biopharma and other investments.

The company aims to overcome drawbacks of existing gene therapy platforms, starting in ocular and CNS diseases.

Only 25 more initial public offerings are needed for 2021 to beat 2020’s record-breaking 86 IPOs. However, the average return for this year’s offerings is just 1.1% as of 1 July versus 11% at the end of the first quarter.

Public Company Edition: Almost halfway through the year, initial public offerings equal nearly three-quarters of the 2020 total. Also, Pardes is one of four new SPAC mergers; HUTCHMED launched an IPO in Hong Kong; and Zentalis, Theravance and BioXcel launched follow-on offerings.