Spotlight On... U.K. committee warns that country is unprepared for an epidemic; Valneva's new global marketing network is up and running; Novavax prices $300M of convertible senior notes due 2023; and more...

The most recent Ebola outbreak exposed the U.K.'s inadequate ability to respond to an infectious disease epidemic, the country's Commons Science Committee said on Monday. While Ebola did not spread beyond West Africa, the world may not be so lucky next time. "A combination of hard work and chance prevented Ebola spreading further than it did but a future epidemic may be less containable and spread within the U.K. as well as overseas," said Nicola Blackwood, the committee's Conservative chair, as quoted by the Financial Times. "We must take the opportunity now to ensure that the U.K. is not caught unprepared when the next disease emergency strikes. Lives can be lost for every day of delay." Story

> Lyon, France-based Valneva announced the establishment of its new global marketing and distribution network. Release

> Rockville, MD-based Novavax ($NVAX) announced the pricing of $300 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior unsecured notes that will mature on February 1, 2023. Release

> Port Hueneme, CA-based Stellar Biotechnologies and French biotech Neovacs will form a joint venture to manufacture conjugated therapeutic vaccines using Stellar's Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH) platform. Release

> University of Missouri researchers have found, in rare instances, a link between the chickenpox/shingles vaccine and corneal inflammation. Release