Following years of reshaping its operations, one part of Aspen Pharmacare’s business that is to stay for now is the firm’s API division. The South African firm’s management explained why as Aspen presented results from its financial first half, hours after wrapping up a key COVID-19 licensing deal with Johnson & Johnson.

Mersana will help J&J develop antibody-drug conjugates against three targets, while AstraZeneca out-licenses a candidate for peripheral artery disease to Regio.

A US FDA review panel has given a lukewarm reception to molnupiravir, while Inovio is assessing its vaccine candidates against the new omicron variant, J&J nears a South African vaccine deal with Aspen, and South Korea brings in new COVID-19 measures. Meanwhile, Serum exports Novavax vaccine, Bharat looks at Covaxin in Omicron and Ocugen's Covaxin trial put on hold. 

Aspen Pharmacare is continuing to ponder offloading another part of its operations, with bids under consideration for its significant API business units. The company only recently sold a basket of products in South Africa to Acino.