VaxEquity’s founder dropped out of the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine last year – but it and new partner AstraZeneca see potential not just in vaccines, but therapeutics too.

The UK biotech is the first company to file a T-cell receptor therapy with regulators, a class with potential to hit targets unreachable for antibodies and CAR-Ts.

The FDA granted an expected, though long-awaited, approval to the COVID-19 vaccine. Also, Korean regulators have begun a review of Russian vaccine CoviVac, while Bavarian Nordic has initiated a Phase II study of its vaccine booster candidate and received a commitment for up to DKK 800m from the Danish government.

Pfizer and BioNTech sent in Phase I data for a third dose of BNT162b2 to support future licensure, Gritstone bio will work with CEPI to develop its second-generation vaccine in South Africa and other areas, and Roche Genentech expects a shortage of the drug Actemra to last for several weeks amid a surge in cases.