Updated guidance on France’s experimental fast-track procedure for approving clinical trials shows that the pathway has entered a new phase.

The UK life sciences trade group says the “ill-considered” guidance will result in duplicative and costly repetition and dent industry’s confidence in the government’s competence.

The Australian government is investing in two candidate vaccines being developed in Melbourne, French firm Avaxia is looking at the virucidal potential of an antibacterial compound, and Canada has ordered millions of specialist vials and syringes from an advanced materials science firm based in Alabama.