As it prepares to report second quarter earnings that may show coronavirus-related impacts, the company’s antiviral for COVID-19 may boost 2020 revenue and offset need for new products.

Deal snapshot: Pionyr’s top two candidates are preclinical, but Gilead buys near 50% stake in the hope that myeloid tuners will work in combination with anti-PD-L1 agents in solid tumors.

Mereo BioPharma’s completed private placement in the US will support clinical studies of its candidate immuno-oncology product etigilimab and a later-stage anti-sclerotin antibody product with potential in the treatment of brittle bone disease.

Vibostolimab is less advanced than Roche’s competing tiragolumab, but Merck thinks the combo of its anti-TIGIT and Keytruda will offer a better therapeutic profile.