Mersana signs its third ADC partnership with big pharmas for the year with Merck agreement. Lilly expands its RNA editing partnership with ProQR, which now has the potential to earn an additional $2.5bn. Novartis continues its divestment efforts in deals with Harrow, Erasca.

Private Company Edition: Scrip spoke with DDF US partner Jonathan Behr about the convergence of emerging science, venture capital investment and rising big pharma interest in neurodegeneration. Also, in recent VC financings HotSpot raised $100m, while Curie and Ablaze debuted with $75m each. 

Private Company Edition: Atea and Phlow receive big money for big COVID-19 problems – treatments and manufacturing capacity. Also, Cowen raises a $493m fund and antifungal developer Amplyx increases series C round to $90m, among other recent VC deals.

Terns raised an $80m Series B round for NASH and cancer programs, while 89Bio launched with a $60m Series A to fund drugs for NASH and other liver and metabolic diseases. Also, Stoke leads recent VC deals with $90m Series B.