It takes a lot of negotiation with regulators, advisory boards, and alignment between commercial and portfolio management teams to define and agree a clinical trial protocol. Why on earth would companies change it once a study is underway?

Indian firms are getting their act together in areas like cell and gene therapy, with Dr Reddy’s aiming big and readying a facility alongside an alliance with a Chinese firm for a CAR-T therapy. The company is also doubling down in contract development and manufacturing, with an eye on opportunities in biologics.

Solasia's arsenical drug darinaparsin has received its global-first approval in Japan, for PTCL, in a landmark for the Texan chemist who discovered it back in the 70s and paving the way for wider indications and Asian markets.

Athira hoped a small Phase II study would show a benefit on working memory processing speed, but it missed its primary and all secondary endpoints, reducing confidence in the Phase III program.