Biogen’s return of rights to the BTK inhibitor orelabrutinib to originator InnoCare signals an ongoing tough reality for Chinese biotechs with go-global ambitions.

Having led $30bn of acquisitions of companies at Sanofi, the new challenge for its former global head of partnering is to help make Owkin, “the most disruptive AI biotech company in the world,” he tells Scrip.

With the virtual doors about to close on the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) meeting, Scrip takes a look at some of the highlights, including data for Merck KGaA and Sanofi’s new BTK inhibitors and research showing the impact of MS therapies on COVID-19 vaccine response.

The Swiss group believes that remibrutinib, as well as its investigational IgE antibody ligelizumab, will complement standard of care Xolair and help it build a strong franchise for chronic spontaneous urticaria.