EcoR1 and Casdin/Corvex took their second and third special purpose acquisition corporations public. Also, Ionis sold notes to buy back older notes and fund operations as it cut 70% of Akcea’s staff. In venture capital, ValenzaBio raised $70m and RA boosted Metagenomi’s series A to $75m.

Global research consortium to investigate the use of immunoglobulin as a COVID-19 therapy ends following disappointing results from a Phase III trial. Meanwhile, Russian vaccine producer RDIF is snapping up more production capacity in India, where interferon has also progressed as a possible treatment. 

After 45 years as a domestic Japanese biopharmaceutical company, JCR Pharmaceuticals is expanding into global markets. The company is betting that its manufacturing strength – which helped land a COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing deal with AstraZeneca – and blood-brain barrier crossing J-Brain Cargo technology will lead to success in Western markets.   

The companies still plan to develop a variant-specific version, while J&J said it anticipates meeting vaccine supply goals despite a manufacturing mix-up.