Serum Institute is working on an mpox vaccine while other Indian firms are weighing options after the WHO sounded an alert and a new case was reported in neighboring Pakistan. Scrip looks at factors that could favor development and/or manufacture of an mpox vaccine at Indian majors.

While Moderna plans preclinical studies and Tonix Pharma’s candidate is to enter trials in H1, Bavarian Nordic is seeking US and Indian manufacturing partners for its approved monkeypox vaccine. Scrip examines if the disease presents an opportunity for vaccine makers, like COVID-19 did or it could go the H1N1 way

Public Company Financings: Theravance sold its 85% interest in Trelegy royalties from GSK and Innoviva sold its 15% interest for up to $1.8bn in total. Also, ProKidney grossed $597m from its SPAC merger, Pliant raised $200m in a post-Phase IIa offering and Marinus earned $110m in a PRV sale.

While Bharat Biotech is close to an accelerated approval of Covaxin in two to 18-year-olds, Zydus Cadila is yet to roll out its COVID-19 vaccine in India. As they head to a face-off in pediatric vaccines, the former faces manufacturing constraints and the latter hesitance over a first of its kind DNA vaccine. Experts speak to Scrip on which one stands a better chance of winning.