The French drug maker isn’t moving its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine into Phase III, instead focusing on a GSK-partnered protein SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and applying mRNA technology elsewhere.

Gennova Biopharma’s mRNA ambitions are taking wing as its HDT Bio-partnered self-amplifying vaccine moves to Phase II. Notably, the company will have to prove superiority to AstraZeneca/Serum Institute’s Covishield in what appears to be the first comparative study for a COVID-19 vaccine candidate in India, Scrip learns.

Seqirus is pursuing self-amplifying RNA, a promising but more technically complex approach which could help it compete in the next generation of flu and pandemic vaccines.

Lilly partners with Kumquat to discover small molecule IO drug. Kite, Appia Bio collaborate on allogeneic cell therapies. AstraZeneca and Regeneron pursue novel metabolic therapies targeting GPR75. Lexeo and Stelios merge to focus on gene therapies for rare cardiovascular indications.