India’s Saptagir Laboratories has struck a deal with Jubilant Pharma to manufacture the ingredient for COVID-19 emergency treatment remdesivir. Meanwhile, following in the footsteps of Cipla, Hetero, Mylan and Zydus, Dr Reddy’s has launched its version of remdesivir for the Indian market under a licensing deal with Gilead.

Novavax has granted Serum Institute rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize its COVID-19 vaccine candidate in selected regions, in another endorsement of the Indian group's capabilities. The agreement, which expands on an earlier association, gives Serum exclusive marketing rights in India until the deal ends and non-exclusive rights for developing countries to the end of the pandemic, with the US firm getting half of net revenue.

Hanmi licenses out GLP-1/glucagon receptor dual agonist for NASH to Merck, in a deal worth up to $870m, marking a positive turn for the Korean firm's pipeline after Janssen returned rights last year.