AstraZeneca adds an important product to its cardiovascular, renal and metabolism (CVRM) portfolio and Ionis gains the first drug it will commercialize as it prepares for its first wholly owned launch.

Public Company Edition: Applied Molecular Transport, Scholar Rock, Agios and others join many of their peers in revising their strategies and downsizing their teams. Also, Zentalis grossed $200m from a follow-on offering and OKYO Pharma went public in the year’s smallest biopharma IPO in the US. 

Evolving challenges will keep the COVID-19 pipeline active, while oncology, immunology and CNS are areas also expected to see much progress in 2022. Industry executives look forward to the year in therapeutic R&D.

Private Company Edition: Several drug developers targeting neurological diseases raised venture capital recently. In addition to Nura Bio, Encoded Therapeutics revealed a $135m series D round. Also, Longwood closed a $170m fund and Flagship launched Omega Therapeutics with $85m.