Latest data show a worrying public health trend that remains the top health concern in China despite surging COVID infections.

A landmark approval and domestic tie-up in China mark the fast innovation that is shaping the country’s health sector.

Private Company Edition: The astonishing pace of venture capital investment in drug development continues with another $1.5bn in financings of $100m or more, including $152m for Pyxis and $126m for Omega. New VC funds also continue to launch, including RiverVest’s fifth fund, totaling $275m.

Former Novartis CEO Jimenez co-founded Aditum with former NIBR president Mark Fishman; they raised $133m and are launching Tempero Bio. Also, Atea, Galecto and SQZ went public along with one more health care SPAC, Royalty Pharma upped its Vertex royalty revenues and Mirati’s FOPO raised $926.3m.