The deal worth up to $576m gives Merck what Calporta founding investor Avalon believes is the most advanced program targeting TRPML1, a lysosomal ion channel implicated in neurodegenerative diseases when the lysosome stops clearing debris from cells.

Public Company Edition: Five biopharma firms went public in the US in recent weeks, but Inhibrx withdrew its IPO and Monopar postponed its offering. Also, Tot Biopharm launched an IPO in Hong Kong, while Epizyme sold royalties and issued debt to raise up to $270m.

Private Company Edition: VC deals are surging this year for cell and gene therapy firms, according to ARM’s third quarter report. Also, Vivo Capital and the CF Foundation plan to invest nearly $2bn in health care and life science opportunities, and Akeso completes $150m series D.

Trump administration wants the HIV drug maker to license HHS patents related to pre-exposure prophylaxis. Lawsuit follows Gilead’s request in August for the USPTO’s PTAB to conduct an inter partes review of the four-year-old patents.

Trump administration wants the HIV drug maker to license HHS patents related to pre-exposure prophylaxis. Lawsuit follows Gilead’s request in August for the USPTO’s PTAB to conduct an inter partes review of the four-year-old patents.

CAR-T therapies from Janssen, Celgene and others will get a lot of attention at the annual hematology meeting, including candidates with novel constructs and targets.