Pfizer disclosed that a Phase III trial for the gene therapy has been unable to start in the US because of questions from the FDA, even while enrollment in 15 sites outside the US is under way.

The UK’s purchase of 60 million extra Pfizer/BioNTech COVID vaccine doses, plus bets on Novavax and Valneva and others gives it a buffer against new variants – so when will it pledge to donate to more needy nations?

A COVID-19 second wave is wreaking havoc in India but pharma appears to be holding things together for now, stretching resources amid a dip in personnel attendance and supply chain strains. Limited vaccine supplies, a spurt in API prices and an inevitable third wave could mean further turbulence ahead.

Private Company Edition: Dyno’s first VC round will enable more deals for its novel AAV platform; Eikon pioneers new drug discovery technology. Also, Treeline’s early funding revealed at $211.7m; Capsida raised $140m from a VC round, AbbVie deal; and Affinia closed a $110m series B round.