(Also see "Sanofi Joins mRNA COVID-19 Club With Translate Tie-Up" - Scrip, 27 March, 2020.)	The French drug maker has joined the likes of Moderna Inc., BioNTech SE and CureVac AG in advancing an mRNA vaccine against the virus that causes COVID-19 that could take the fraction of the time to develop compared with the old egg- and cell-based technology.
(Also see "A Backstage View Of Roche’s Recent Collaborations" - Scrip, 27 March, 2020.)	In an exclusive interview, Barbara Lueckel, global head of research technologies at Roche Pharma Partnering, talks about the rationale behind the 2020 deals with Bicycle Therapeutics PLC and Nimble Therapeutics Inc. She gives insight into how deal makers are shifting gears to make deals happen in the challenging environment of the global coronavirus pandemic.
(Also see "Coronavirus Puts The Brakes On Mylan-Upjohn Merger" - Generics Bulletin, 26 March, 2020.)	Mylan NV and [Upjohn Laboratories] were all set to merge into Viatris GMBH by midway through this year, subject to certain approvals, but that will now not happen in that timeframe as the global coronavirus pandemic proves an insurmountable barrier to getting the deal over the line.
(Also see "CytomX’s Probody T-Cell Platform Produces Astellas Pact" - Scrip, 25 March, 2020.)	Astellas Pharma Inc. of Japan and CytomX Therapeutics Inc. of the US will deploy the latter’s Probody bispecific technology to design therapeutics that remain inactive until triggered by proteases in the tumor microenvironment, so that they bind selectively to tumors and leave healthy tissue alone.
(Also see "AstraZeneca Likes Sound Of Silence's Science" - Scrip, 25 March, 2020.)	The UK major is getting access to Silence Therapeutics PLC's small interfering RNA (siRNA) platform while the London-based biotech is getting further validation of its technology and a considerable pile of cash.
(Also see "Sandoz Gains Rights To Two US Injectables" - Generics Bulletin, 24 March, 2020.)	With the $1bn deal to transfer its US dermatology and orals solids operations to Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. still awaiting completion, Sandoz International GMBH is expanding its portfolio of sterile injectables - a key area of focus for the company - by acquiring the rights to two products from BE Pharmaceuticals.
(Also see "Bayer, Curadev Enter ‘STING’ Pact Exploring Inflammatory Disease" - Scrip, 23 March, 2020.)	Bayer AG and Curadev Pharma Pvt. Ltd. entered a research collaboration and license agreement to develop novel STING antagonists targeting inflammatory disease.
(Also see "Aspen Makes Multiple Moves Amid Challenging Conditions" - Generics Bulletin, 19 March, 2020.)	South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd. has made multiple strategic moves, including divesting its Japanese business to Sandoz and selling its local Phekolong Pharmaceuticals South African subsidiary to Laurus Labs, as part of efforts to better position itself in the face of “challenging” market conditions.
(Also see "Immatics To Go Public Through Merger With ‘Blank Check’ Company Arya" - Scrip, 18 March, 2020.)	German TCR developer in partnerships with GlaxoSmithKline PLC and BMS will go public and receive $252m at closing in a reverse merger-type transaction with Arya.
(Also see "Oxford Biomedica Transforms With New Deals, R&D Pipeline, And Manufacturing Facilities" - Scrip, 18 March, 2020.)	The lentivirus gene delivery company Oxford BioMedica PLC is to collaborate with Juno Therapeutics Inc. on its CAR-T and TCR-T projects, adding to the UK biotech’s transformation into a debt-free company with a growing in-house product pipeline.
(Also see "Japan’s AGC Makes Agreed €240m Bid For MolMed" - Scrip, 17 March, 2020.)	AGC of Japan is offering to buy cell and gene therapy specialist MolMed SPA in a deal worth up to €240m and backed by the biotech’s biggest shareholder, Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest.
(Also see "Advanz Gets European Heft, Portfolio Assets In Correvio Buyout" - Scrip, 16 March, 2020.)	Building portfolio and commercial infrastructure in Europe, Advanz Pharma Corp. gets both at a modest price in acquiring Correvio Pharma Corp.
(Also see "AcelRx Obtains Troubled Antibiotic Firm Tetraphase In Stock Swap" - Scrip, 16 March, 2020.)	Unable to make a go of selling novel antibiotic Xerava, Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s product and commercial team will be absorbed into AcelRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. in $14.4m deal.

Deal Watch: Coronavirus Collaborations Reflect Industry’s Full Press Pandemic Response

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