After reducing 500 employees last year while reorganizing its subsidiaries in the US in the aftermath of patent expiration for its mainstay product Latuda, the Japanese firm has decided to move ahead with another rationalization affecting 400 employees there.

BIO CEO panelist Rajeev Venkayya argued that the huge amount of investment in COVID-19 vaccines makes it possible for new players to challenge Comirnaty and Spikevax’s dominance.

Public Company Edition: Alto Neuroscience and Fractyl Health grossed $128.6m and $110m, respectively, while FibroBiologics went public in a direct listing. Also, Vaxcyte grossed $862.5m in a follow-on offering, Immunocore grossed $350m in a note sale and Vera raised $287.5m.

Plus deals involving Fujimoto/Egetis, Chugai/Cheplapharm, Celest/Senti, Shionogi/Apnimed, Jiangsu Hengrui/Merck KGaA, Jiangsu Hengrui/Elevar, Sun/Zydus, C4U/Healiva, Shanghai Henlius/Intas, Ono/Turbine, EpimAB/Almirall and Alar/Indivior.