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.

Shanghai Henlius Biotech is to make history with the first China-developed monoclonal antibody biosimilar in Europe, the firm’s Zercepac (trastuzumab) biosimilar that has been licensed to Accord Healthcare.

NICE says that Bavencio plus Inlyta will be made available via the Cancer Drugs Fund for advanced kidney cancer while more evidence is collected to support the combination therapy's routine use on the National Health Service.

Sales were down in the second quarter to $5.07bn, primarily due to coronavirus-related impacts, but Gilead’s COVID-19 antiviral therapy remdesivir will boost revenues in the second half.