At least four groups have started to develop vaccines to protect against the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that was first detected in Wuhan, China. Among the companies working on a vaccine, Moderna and NIH have announced a partnership that will explore both a vaccine and therapeutic approach. However, work will begin with an investigation of the efficacy of existing antivirals and mAbs. The NIH plans to initiate this process by testing to determine if mAbs against the SARS virus are effective against the Wuhan Virus. At the same, Moderna will be working closely with the NIH on an mRNA vaccine. Estimates place the availability of a vaccine on an emergency basis at 1-2 years. Learn More

Belgium's financial services and markets authority (FSMA) said this week that it had opened an investigation into suspected insider trading against the chief executive of Mithra Pharmaceuticals. Francois Fornieri is suspected of buying Mithra shares via a third party in order to avoid mandatory notifications to the regulator, FSMA said, adding it had been looking into the case since September. For his part, Fornieri was quoted in Belgian business daily L'Echo as saying the allegation was nonsense, asking why he would do such an elaborate move to buy 40,000 shares when he already owned almost 13 million. Learn More

China's centralized procurement program, which seeks the lowest prices for therapeutics, is being seen by many as seeking to force foreign firms to revalue their access to the Chinese market. While at the same time prompting local firms to create strategies for survival under a policy that aims to consolidate the industry. Roughly 77 biopharma companies won contracts with the Chinese government by slashing prices of drugs by 53% on average, according to Chinese state media. Twenty-four foreign biopharma companies also joined the bidding process. Those who won the bids cut the prices of their originator drugs by 82% on average, the state media reported. Learn More