Plus transactions involving ANI/Alimera, Gilead/ashibio, Sanofi/Belharra and more.

Public Company Edition: Several special purpose acquisition corporations have emerged, including various health care- and life science-focused SPACs. Also, Alvotech entered into a $965m refinancing agreement and Avidity grossed $461m in a follow-on offering, among other updates.

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.

Guest speaker Professor Guangzuo Luo joins Brian Yang and Dexter Yang to discuss orphan drug development and going global trends for Chinese bioventures, along with the latest business moves from Shanghai Fosun and Jiangsu Hengrui.