Private Company Edition: NVCA and Pitchbook data show pharma and biotech companies raised $37.8bn in venture capital in 2021, up 41% from the record $26.8bn total in 2020. Recent mega-rounds include $190m for Maze and $200m for Alumis, and Sound Bioventures raised a €110m fund.

Neurimmune and Ethris partner on inhaled therapy. Reata, Ionis and others delay trials, Brii announces China antibody alliance, Fujifilm starts favipiravir trials. World's largest trial for health workers starts. 

The latest biopharma industry appointments include new CEOs at Oculis, PellePharm, Syntimmune and Sterna Biologicals and a new CFO at Oculis, as well as new CMOs at Proclara Biosciences, Denovo Biopharma and OrphoMed.

Iterum Therapeutics and Genoa Pharmaceuticals topped the list of biopharmaceutical start-up firms closing new venture capital rounds in May with $65m and $62m, respectively, to advance drug candidates for bacterial infections and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.