In this week's podcast edition of Five Must-Know Things: AstraZeneca looks to return to normality; Bayer’s hopes for Kerendia; Novartis’s plans for a new version of Zolgensma; Arcturus benefits from mRNA interest; and AbbVie changes tack in Alzheimer’s.

Singapore has granted approval for a Phase I/II trial of Arcturus’s next generation mRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidates, hot on the heels of a similar approval from Vietnam earlier this week. The biotech’s share price duly rocketed, but there may be more at play.

Transparency is the order of the day as Médecins Sans Frontières calls for more disclosure on vaccine deals signed by Sanofi/GSK and other companies. 

While COVID-19 shocked global financial markets and is expected to impact biopharma fundraising, investment in drug developers continues, including through two new venture capital funds totaling nearly $2bn. Also, Coherus issues debt to fund deals and MOMA launches with $86m in VC cash.