A study indicates that the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 and its sub-lineage Delta Plus can be neutralized by Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine, but a federal investigation in Brazil and a class action suit against its US partner have hurt the firm’s global ambitions. Experts weigh in on what the future could possibly hold.

The US obtained access to doses that it will donate to low- and low-middle-income countries, Merck & Co. is lining up government purchases of its Phase III drug, and Ocugen will submit a BLA in the US rather than pursue an EUA for Bharat's vaccine. Plus progress and setbacks for COVID-19 therapeutics. 

Public Company Edition: Roivant’s deal sets its market cap at $7.3bn. Beyond the Werewolf and Vaccitech offerings, more drug developers are slated to go public during the first week of May. And in follow-on offerings, COMPASS Pathways raises $144m and Aldeyra brings in $125m.

Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine has shown 80.6% efficacy in interim data from Phase III clinical trials, slightly better than the 79.3% reported by Sinopharm and significantly higher than Sinovac’s 50.6% for their vaccines based on similar technology. Supply deals are already on the way, with Brazil having signed up for 200 million doses.