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.

Analysts who felt Sanofi paid way over the odds when splashing out $3.7bn to buy Principia last year will be feeling justified in that stance after one of the oral BTK inhibitors acquired, rilzabrutinib, proved to be no more effective than placebo in a Phase III trial.

Medtech companies brought in $2.3 billion in financing in Q1 2017, a slight decrease from Q4 2016; device M&A deals totaled $5.8 billion, a sharp decline from the prior quarter, but there were some billion-dollar deals. Q1 diagnostics financings – totaling $1.2 billion (thanks to a $900 million Series B round by cancer diagnostics company Grail) – showed a significant increase over the preceding quarter, as did the Q1 M&As at $700 million versus the previous $87 million.