Gilead files for US approval of remdesivir and boosts investment in manufacturing capacity, more funding is needed for the global ACT Accelerator initiative, and the US and China are rated among the worst responders to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The UK BioIndustry Association has welcomed the government’s fresh investment in COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing capacity, while Sanofi and GSK are striking European and US deals for their vaccine candidate. A number of potential therapies are also being developed, including products based on interferon and hyperimmune globulin, but Roche/Chugai’s Actemra (tocilizumab) looks like a non-runner.

Private Company Edition: In addition to Erasca’s big series B round, Mabwell reportedly brought in $278m. Also, Kurma, Venrock and Section bring the number of new VC funds in April to eight, raising $5.89bn, and former AveXis execs launched the new gene therapy venture Taysha.

Hypera is offloading a basket of brands it recently acquired from Takeda which are sold primarily in Mexico to São Paulo-based Eurofarma.