Nearly a year into the job, research chief Christian Rommel tells Scrip he is impressed with Bayer's arm's length approach to running acquired firms like AskBio and BlueRock and the task ahead is to deliver on the potential they offer, while getting later-stage projects across the approvals finishing line.

The emergence and rapid spread of the Omicron variant has kept COVID-19 firmly in the headlines but the biopharma industry has had plenty on its plate on top of tackling the pandemic. Scrip has taken a look back at five of the biggest non-COVID-19 story themes of 2021 in no particular order.

The German major will collaborate with the US biotech to develop CRISPR gene-editing therapies, solidifying its interest in next-generation therapeutics.

It has taken just seven weeks from a cold call to completion and the German major has got its hands on a prized asset in Vividion which was on the verge of listing on the NASDAQ. The companies told Scrip how the deal was done.