Plus deals involving Sanofi/SIRION, Merck KGAA/Day One, Beijing Tide/Graviton, Vaccinex/Surface Oncology, Athena/Tris, Biomunex/Onward, Cellectis/Cytovia

Newly public Aligos will team with Merck & Co. on oligonucleotide therapies for NASH. Maze Therapeutics launches ophthalmology and CV-focused spinouts with Alloy and BridgeBio.

With the impact of pandemic-prompted disturbances waning, analysts forecast better Q2 numbers for Indian pharma firms, with some including Glenmark and Cipla seen emerging winners. But after doing well in the quarter, Gilead’s licensees might see remdesivir demand tapering somewhat in Q3 post the WHO finding the antiviral ineffective in COVID-19 treatment.

Zentiva has struck a new partnership to expand its already significant operations in Europe, this time in Greece with local firm Lavipharm.