Private Company Edition: Recent VC financings across biopharma sectors include three major mega-rounds as Generate Biomedicines bringing in $370m, followed by $250m for Acelyrin and $125m for Chroma Medicine. Also, Treadwell raised a $91m series B and Ncardia brought in $60m-plus.

Another three in vitro diagnostics companies in Germany are working on tests for the early detection of COVID-19, with confirmed infections reaching 89,000 globally by 2 March.

The xMap Multiflex Zika RNA Assay is a molecular diagnostic that is designed to detect the Zika virus in human serum, urine or plasma.

US FDA has asked Miami-area blood banks to close until they can screen all blood supplies for the Zika virus in the wake of the first known cases transmitted by mosquitos within the US. A manufacturer of the only test currently available for blood-bank use does not expect shortages, despite the increased demand.