The European Medicines Agency has extended the time that Comirnaty can spend in a fridge after defrosting and could this week issue advice to member states on sotrovimab for use in COVID-19 patients. Norway’s BerGenBio has published top-line data from a Phase II trial of of bemcentinib, and IcanoMAB has outlined the potential of its anti-IL-1R7 antibody.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Dealmaking column is a survey of recent health care transactions listed by relevant industry segment – In Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceuticals – and then categorized by type – Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing. This month’s column covers deals announced in May 2017.

French biotechs Servier and ILTOO sign an option agreement for the latter's IL-2 inhibitor for lupus, while Korean biotechs LegoChem and Bridge will team up in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Recent executive-level hires and director appointments at venture capital firms and biopharma and medtech start-ups.