Novartis announces collaboration with Molecular Partners to develop two DARPin® therapies designed for potential use against COVID-19
Novartis and Molecular Partners AG announced a collaboration in the form of an option and license agreement to develop, manufacture and commercialize Molecular Partners' anti-COVID-19 DARPin® program, consisting of two therapeutic candidates, MP0420 and MP0423. The collaboration aims to leverage Molecular Partners' proprietary DARPin® technologies and Novartis broad expertise in 
Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a late-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, today announced the expansion of its Maryland campus to accommodate the company's rapid growth as it works to develop its candidate vaccine against COVID-19 and advance its influenza vaccine for global markets. 
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund), União Química Farmacêutica Nacional and the Government of the State of Paraná announce the pre-submission of preliminary documents to Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), in order to register Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, the world's first registered vaccine against coronavirus infection, in conformity with the Brazilian regulatory procedures. 
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) ("Takeda") today announced that it will import and distribute 50 million doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273, starting in the first half of 2021, pending licensure in Japan. This effort is part of a three-way agreement among Takeda, Moderna and the Government of Japan's Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare (MHLW). 
Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) and Atea Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that they are joining forces in the fight against COVID-19 to develop, manufacture and distribute AT-527, Atea’s investigational oral direct-acting antiviral, to people around the globe. AT-527 acts by blocking the viral RNA polymerase enzyme needed for viral replication, and is currently being studied in a Phase 2 clinical trial for hospitalised patients with moderate COVID-19. 
Sanofi and GSK have signed a Statement of Intent with Gavi, the legal administrator of the COVAX Facility, a global risk-sharing mechanism for pooled procurement and equitable distribution of eventual COVID-19 vaccines.