Vertex and CRISPR look beyond beta thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Also, Bicycle gets $50m up front in Novartis deal, Regeneron commits $75m initially under a Treg collaboration with Sonoma, and Jounce gets a better deal from Concentra to wave off Redx merger.

In February, Jounce’s future looked bleak after the failure of vopratelimab and fears that its finances would run out. Now, it has two suitors with Concentra making a bid to compete with an all-stock merger with the UK’s Redx.

Immix collaborates with Israeli research institutions on BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapy. NeoImmuneTech/NIAID alliance could pave way for “animal rule” approval in acute radiation syndrome.

China has rejected extending insurance coverage for Pfizer’s Paxlovid despite the US company's plans to continue supplying the oral COVID-19 antiviral, including through local manufacturing, amid strong demand and increasing severe infections in the country.