The US is to ship only half of doses for Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines in the first instance, while Rhizen Pharmaceuticals starts a Phase I trial of a DHODH inhibitor.

Public Company Edition: Four health care special purpose acquisition vehicles went public and two others announced mergers, but only one biopharma firm priced an IPO during the week of 19-23 October. Replimune’s $250m offering led recent FOPOs.

Public Company Edition: The German mRNA-focused company could raise up to $245m based on its proposed price range, but investor interest could drive the offering’s total higher. Also, Perceptive launches another SPAC, Regeneron sells $2bn in debt and Biohaven secures up to $950m. 

Start-up Insitro will attempt to optimize up to five NASH targets for Gilead under three-year alliance. Catalent buys gene therapy CDMO Paragon for $1.2bn, Boehringer partners with PureTech in GI cancer, while Fibrocell inks gene therapy pact with Castle Creek.