Novo, which is under pressure to diversify and signaled plans to cut jobs back in August, will lay off 400 people as it reallocates resources to more efficiently bring in novel products through both R&D and business development, continuing a deal-making spree that's already under way.

Novo Nordisk's R&D pact with Evotec will open therapeutic possibilities for the Danish group in diabetes and obesity using small molecules, says Evotec's CEO.

Also, TapImmune merger with Marker could yield T-cell therapies that address multiple tumor-associated antigens with a better safety profile than CAR-T therapy. Bluebird and Medigene expand their TCR therapy collaboration.