The French major and partner Denali's attempts to validate RIPK1 as a promising target have once again foundered as oditrasertib comes up short in a multiple sclerosis trial months after a failure in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Seven rare disease programs make up the first round of participants in the US FDA’s ‘Operation Warp Speed’-style program. Sponsors will benefit from ‘rapid, ad hoc’ communication with the agency.

The Japanese company will await imaging results to see if AC Immune’s candidate ACI-24.060 can help prevent or remove plaques before finalizing the deal.

Public Company Edition: Denali, Crinetics and Ocular Therapeutix grossed $500m, $350m and $325m, respectively, in private placements ahead of data readouts. Also, Viking raised $550m after its positive Phase II obesity data and Abingworth invested $210m in Gilead’s Trodelvy NSCLC trials.