Silicon Valley Bank data show a pullback in crossover financings but an increase in seed and series A venture capital rounds. In recent private company financings, CRO Novotech raised $760m. In public company financings, Eleusis will merge with a SPAC and the Bausch + Lomb IPO is on file with the SEC.

ImmPACT Bio is advancing three CAR-T technology platforms that aim to address problems such as antigen escape, off-target toxicities and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. 

Public Company Edition: While panelists at Biotech Showcase argued merging with a special purpose acquisition corporation is not as attractive as it used to be, firms continue to pursue this go-public alternative. Also, Hillstream launched a small IPO and Cytokinetics accessed cash from Royalty Pharma. 

Private Company Edition: NVCA and Pitchbook data show pharma and biotech companies raised $37.8bn in venture capital in 2021, up 41% from the record $26.8bn total in 2020. Recent mega-rounds include $190m for Maze and $200m for Alumis, and Sound Bioventures raised a €110m fund.

No big buyouts were revealed during the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference for a third year in a row. Big pharma firms are in acquisition mode, but execs stress desire for easy integrations and scientific alliances. 

The draft national coverage determination, released shortly before Lilly CEO David Ricks spoke at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, said Medicare will cover anti-amyloid antibodies only for patients in clinical trials, severely limiting commercial potential for Biogen’s Aduhelm and near-term competitors.