During the third quarter, device company fundraising totaled $3.3bn; while in vitro diagnostic firms and research tools players raised $3.4bn.

There are 18 people on the committee that will issue the first recommendations on COVID-19 vaccine development and licensure. Among the experts are a University of Michigan epidemiologist who will serve as acting chairman and seven temporary voting members, two of whom required conflict-of-interest waivers.

The Australian government is investing in two candidate vaccines being developed in Melbourne, French firm Avaxia is looking at the virucidal potential of an antibacterial compound, and Canada has ordered millions of specialist vials and syringes from an advanced materials science firm based in Alabama.

The European Medicine Agency has recommended extending the therapeutic indication of a raft of drugs that are already authorized in the EU.