Despite an early stumble, the U.S. FDA granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to the C5a inhibitor Gohibic (vilobelimab) from Inflarx NV for treating COVID-19 in hospitalized adults. A year ago, an initial phase III analysis had failed to show a statistically significant effect on the primary endpoint of 28-day all-cause mortality though there was a relative reduction in mortality in the active arm vs. placebo.

Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Acasti, Aim, Amarin, Astellas, Caribou, Gennova, Hutchmed, Pfizer, Phathom, Scisparc, Seagen, Shionogi.

Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Alaunos, Arbutus, Arrowhead, Beactica, Biontech, Briacell, Diamyd, Enzyvant, Forcefield, Freeline, Genevant, Gri, GSK, Histogram, Indivumed, Liquidia, Medigene, Metabolon, Myovant, Oncternal, Oscotec, Pfizer, Precigen, Sumitomo, Sumitovant, Tonix, Urovant, Vallon, VBI.

Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Abcuro, Akebia, Ascendis, Alzamed, Citius, Contrafect, Corvus, Ensysce, Fibrogen, Kodiak, Lipocine, Oncosec, Oryzon, Pardes, Scioto, Travere, Vico.

Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Almirall, Anavex Life Sciences, Curasen, Cytokinetics, Eisai, Eledon, Eli Lilly, Hansa, Immutep, Insmed, Invivyd.

The EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended approval of Hipra Human Health SLU’s recombinant COVID-19 vaccine, Bimervax, as a booster in people ages 16 and older who have been vaccinated with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Achieve, Affimed, Biogen, Bioxytran, Caribou, Corcept, Evaxion, Harmony, Netris, Precigen, Rapt.

U.S. lawmakers have been busy writing to government agencies demanding answers and explanations on a range of issues, including drug shortages, gain-of-function research and thickets of duplicative patents that extend patent protection well beyond 20 years for some prescription drugs.

During the first round of discussion at its two-day hearing on a World Trade Organization proposal to expand the intellectual property (IP) waiver from COVID-19 vaccines to diagnostics and therapies, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) got an earful from both sides of the debate.