Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Aerie, Alvotech, Anixa, Arbutus, Biovaxys Technology, Cancer Advances, Clover, Coda, Delix, Gain, Galderma, Hyundai, Glaxosmithkline, Hansa, Janone, Medison, Meryx, Molgenie, Novartis, Proteros Biostructures, Recursion, Roche, Santen, Scilex, Sosei, Sorento, Spago, Specific, Syndevrx, Taysha, Vickers, Vir, Vtv, X-Chem, Xcovery, XNK.

Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Abbvie, Acurx, Aeglea, Bavarian Nordic, Biohaven, Catalyst, Citius, Cyxone, Dydo, Glycomimetics, Hutchmed, Implicit, J&J, Karyopharm, Kazia, Kronos, Mediwound, Mesoblast, Nrx, Ocular, PDS, Ventyx, Xenon, ZZ.

LONDON – New research shows the extent to which an individual’s immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus is affected by which variants they are initially exposed to, a finding that has consequences for attempts to update vaccines against emerging variants of concern.

Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Abbvie, Abcellera, Amicus, Amydis, Ascletis, Atamyo, Beigene, Biotheus, BMS, Cyclo, Eli Lilly, Eusa, Henlius, Jacobio, Junshi, Kolon, Legend, Longeveron, Merck & Co., Noramco, RDIF, Redhill, Roche, Sapience, Spectrum, Ultimovacs, Valneva.

Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Abionyx, Alpha Cognition, Aqilion, Bayer, Bsense, CAMP4, Carisma, GB Biosciences, Greenlight, Gritstone, IO, Inflammasome, J&J, Julphar, Kaleido, Merck & Co., NGM, Pfizer, Phylex, Poolbeg, Pulmocide, Quantum, Rarestone, Recursion, RDIF, Rhythm, Secura, Sinovac.

Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Adagene, Adicet, Astrazeneca, Bayer, Bellicum, Biofrontera, Bolt, Eupraxia, Fulcrum, Hummingbird, I-Mab, Immunicum, Immunocore, Janssen, Merus, Neurona, Revive, Scynexis, Springworks, Stoke, Surface Oncology, Viacyte.

Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Aurora Spine, Corza Medical, Depuy Synthes, Eurofins, Hillrom, Johnson & Johnson, Katena Products, Orthospin, Origimed, Pria Healthcare.

LONDON – The latest epidemiological data from South Africa show it has entered a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, fueled by the Omicron variant of concern that was first detected in the country in late November. “We have moved from a total of 2,465 new cases last Thursday, when this variant was announced, to yesterday’s high of 11,535 [PCR confirmed infections],” said health minister Joseph Phaahla, in a briefing on Dec. 3.

Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: 180 Life Sciences, Acasti, Amgen, Arbutus, Arca, Bonus, Hepagene, Humanigen, India Globalization, Immutep, Karyopharm, Redhill, Revelation, Spago, VBI, Ysopia.