BMN 307 for phenylketonuria was put on a clinical hold in September due to liver cancer observed in mice and was expected to lift in Q1 of 2022, but the US FDA has requested additional preclinical studies. 

Sio Gene Therapies is returning its rights for a Parkinson’s disease program to Oxford Biomedica, leaving observers regretting the loss of a big market opportunity, while the US firms seeks a new CEO.

Around 100 executives highlight the hot areas to watch on the R&D front in 2021. From cancer to CNS and from regenerative medicine to real world data, expectations are high on many fronts.

Public Company Edition: 2020 started with two $200m-plus initial public offerings plus five health care-focused special purpose acquisition corporations IPOs. Also, a Pfizer initiative backs three public companies, Fate’s $432m offering led recent FOPOs and Biocon Biologics receives more investment.