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