Japan has announced several new measures to tackle the lack of rare disease and other therapeutics in the domestic market, with the country's main industry association also issuing the first common national informed consent form in a bid to lighten the “huge workload” on trial site staff.

Troubled by recent clinical disappointments, First Wave will combine with ImmunogenX to focus on that company’s Phase III-ready enzyme replacement therapy for celiac disease. A deep-pocketed partner waits in the wings.

Private Company Edition: After just seven venture capital rounds of $100m or more in January and February, five have been announced already in March, including a $200m series A round for Cargo Therapeutics, Chroma Medicine’s $135m series B financing and $112m for Noema’s series B.

The latest drug development news and highlights from the Pink Sheet’s US FDA Performance Tracker