Takeda has linked up with COVID-19 vaccine frontrunner Novavax, while Daiichi Sankyo has been selected by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as an official participant under the first round of a national government initiative to build production capacity.

Also, Neoimmune looks to interleukin therapy for mild therapy while Daiichi Sankyo bets on a mRNA vaccine.

As a recent increase in silent virus spreaders in metropolitan areas raises concerns, South Korea unveils policy measures to support the development of COVID-19 drugs and vaccines, as well as to secure imports of such products if necessary.

Focused on precision medicine for renal disease, Chinook gets Aduro’s Nasdaq listing and starting capital of $200m. During a wave of modest-sized M&A deals, Tetra finds buyer, Tetraphase gets competing bids.