Private Company Edition: In recent weeks, 19 companies disclosed venture capital funding of $20m or more, including FogPharma with a $178m series D round and Apogee’s $169m launch. Also, Avalon BioVentures spun out of Avalon Ventures with a $135m fund.

Company is ‘anxious to understand’ how to utilize the agency’s views on importance of biomarkers, exec notes in earnings call. Merck & Co. and Pfizer advance COVID-19 therapeutics into Phase III. Pfizer is awaiting FDA risk-benefit assessment of JAK-1 inhibitors Xeljanz and abrocitinib.