The European Medicines Agency has signed a contract with Utrecht University in the Netherlands to gather real-world evidence on the safety and effectiveness of any new COVID-19 vaccines that are launched on the market. According to the World Health Organization, 10 candidate vaccines were in clinical development as of 30 May. Most of these molecules are in early human studies, but with pressure mounting to arrest the coronavirus pandemic, the development of the candidate vaccines is accelerating.

Sanofi SA has raised $11.7 billion from the sale of most of its equity holding in Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, a close partner and co-developer of some of the French company’s most successful products. These include the anti-inflammatory drug Dupixent (dupilumab) which has been approved in the US for four indications. The transaction closed on 29 May.