Biotechnology Last week’s significant news included AbbVie and Regenxbio entering into a potential $1.75 billion collaboration on an ophthalmic gene therapy RGX-314. The UK government terminated a supply agreement for French vaccine maker Valneva’s COVID-19 vaccine VLA2001 that could have been worth $1.66 billion, claiming breach of contract by the company. Meantime, US biotech Regeneron Pharmaceuticals was awarded another US government contract for the COVID-19 cocktail treatment REGEN-COV developed and marketed with Swiss pharma giant Roche worth $2.94 billion. Also, Spain’s Grifols said it will acquire German rival Biotest to enhance its stake in the plasma product sector. 19 September 2021