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Spotlight

Updated: Aug 23, 2021



In this issue of GOLD, we reveal the pharmaceutical industry’s key news stories from the past few months, covering the latest COVID-19 vaccine developments, FDA and European Commission approvals, and major collaborations.



26 January

'The 2021 Access to Medicine Index' is published, with GSK ranked in first place


28 January

Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine shows 89% efficacy in UK Phase 3 trial


03 February

GSK and CureVac partner to develop next generation mRNA COVID-19 vaccines


17 February

The European Commission purchases 150 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine


09 January

Bayer announce their collaboration with UK-based Exscientia to accelerate the potential of AI in cardiovascular and oncology drug discovery


25 February

Merck & Co. places an offer to acquire Pandion Therapeutics in $1.85 billion deal


01 March

Boehringer Ingelheim and Gubra partner to identify peptides to treat obesity


16 January

HIV infections among gay and bisexual men in the UK are reported to have fallen by 71%, following the launch of PrEP, a pill that prevents HIV infection


04 March

Novartis signs initial agreement to manufacture CureVac’s COVID-19 vaccine


16 March

Roche launches SARS-CoV-2 variant test to monitor COVID-19 mutations


22 March

Takeda and Evotec form alliance for strategic RNA targeting drug discovery and development


27 March

FDA approves BMS and bluebird bio’s Abecma, the first cell-based gene therapy for patients with multiple myeloma


29 March

Johnson & Johnson announces agreement with African Union for ≤400 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine


30 March

The European Commission approve Roche’s Evrysdi, the first at-home treatment for spinal muscular atrophy

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