The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report that reviewed dozens of studies and the CDC’s own unpublished data on Covid-19 study concluding that immunity caused by natural Covid-19 infection and vaccines both lasted at least six months, but the immunity provided by the vaccines was more consistent.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration extended Legend Biotech Corporation’s Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target date for the drug cilta-cel that the company is developing with partner Janssen Biotech to treat relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma.

Novartis forged a collaboration with U.K.-startup Dunad Therapeutics to develop next-generation targeted protein-degradation therapies in a deal valued at up to $1.3 billion.

Cambridge, Mass.-based Moderna and Emeryville, Calif.-based Metagenomi inked a strategic research and development deal on new gene editing systems for in vivo (in the body) human therapies.

Teva Pharmaceutical announced positive results from the company’s Phase III trial on a subcutaneous, long-acting injectable risperidone formulation in the treatment of schizophrenia. 

Merck is widening the company’s reach into the treatment of autoimmune diseases by investing in Synthekine, a bioresearch company that develops engineered cytokine therapeutics. 

Novavax

Novavax Inc. and partner Serum Institute of India said on November 1 they received emergency use authorization for their Covid-19 vaccine in Indonesia, making it the first approval anywhere in the world for Novavax.

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca said on Nov. 1 the company will transfer global rights for respiratory medicines Eklira and Duaklir to Covis Pharma Group for $270 million, as the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker looks to offload its older portfolio of medicines.

The inexpensive antidepressant fluvoxamine might help keep patients with Covid-19 from developing severe disease, according to a study published in The Lancet Global Health. Researchers found in another study that the coronavirus can infect cells of the inner ear, which may help explain the balance problems, hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) experienced by some Covid-19 patients.

Alnylam announced that the experimental RNAi drug vutrisiran continues to demonstrate positive results at the 18-month mark in patients diagnosed with polyneuropathy associated with hereditary transthyretin-mediated (hATTR) amyloidosis. AbbVie posted Phase III results from two separate studies assessing Vraylar (cariprazine) as an adjunctive treatment for the major depressive disorder. Vraylar came to AbbVie through the company’s acquisition of Allergan.