MAXVAX Biotechnology and Beijing Luzhu Biotechnology raise new funds to progress their recombinant herpes zoster vaccine candidates with novel adjuvants, while multiple other ventures in China complete new financings across multiple therapeutic areas and modalities. 

Two IPOs and 12 venture capital and private equity deals in China raised a combined $1bn in a hectic few weeks of October.

With nearly 3,500 therapies in development globally, and almost $480m in start-up financing in Q1 of 2021 alone, the cell, gene and RNA therapy area is seeing a sharp rise in development and attention. 

Astellas is to close down a small research subsidiary in the US by the end of this year, as it looks to control costs and rationalise its corporate R&D effort.