The big pharma has a gene therapy R&D site in New York from its Prevail Therapeutics buy; the RNA-focused Boston site also will conduct drug delivery research benefitting programs at both locations.

The potential for RNA medicines to achieve holy grail goals – reaching undruggable targets and bringing drugs to market faster – has Pfizer, Lilly, Novartis and others in a deal-making frame of mind. 

Private Company Edition: Omega Funds closed its seventh venture capital fund, far exceeding its $500m goal. Also, Anaveon raised a CHF110m ($119.8m) series B round, Ambys brought its series A total to $107m with $47m in additional investment and Mythic launched with a $103m series B round.

Following last year's licensing deal with Precision Biosciences and the acquisition of Prevail Therapeutics, Eli Lilly is expanding its gene therapy efforts by backing Jaguar, a start-up staffed by former AveXis bosses.