Lilly CEO Sidney Taurel tells Aug. 29 meeting of President's Homeland Security Advisory Council that running a successful organization requires the creation of "a common culture" resulting from "a sense of shared values." The meeting focused on advice to the Administration on creating a new Homeland Security Department; it featured presentations from corporate executives on strategies for successful integration after mergers. Taurel, from the steadfastly independent Lilly, was appointed to the council in June (1"The Pink Sheet" June 17, In Brief)...

Public Company Edition: Mergers with special purpose acquisition corporations may be heating up, but in addition to the Surrozen and Tango SPAC deals Recursion and Biomea launched initial public offerings. Also, Organon sells $5.6bn worth of notes to fund spinout from Merck & Co.

Efforts to improve trial diversity predate COVID-19, but the pandemic’s disproportionate effects on minority communities have brought the issue to the forefront.