Biopharmaceutical companies have been outsourcing R&D activity to CROs for a while, but neither they nor CROs have sorted out which side should bear the burden of what kind of risk and how to best structure operations.

Rather than partner its implantable formulation of exenatide, the biotech turned to hedge funds and other non-traditional investors for the year’s largest round of private capital. The deal enables Intarcia to begin Phase III trials on lead program ITCA-650 for type 2 diabetes, which it believes could be a blockbuster.

Pain relief product sales grew 27% and upper respiratory sales 35% for the week ended 7 March as consumers respond to COVID-19, according to Nielsen data noted in a Jefferies report on consumer health purchasing trends. Private label market share is up slightly, while OTC purchases continue primarily in conventional stores.