Oversee returnee-founded Chinese biotech start-ups Nuwacell and Arnatar secure $14m in series A and seed rounds respectively, while four other major deals backed by private equity and venture capital firms raise a combined $116m.

Daily notebook from the virtual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference: business development is top of mind for BMS, Merck, J&J and Pfizer, while Novartis, Moderna and Regeneron talk about next steps. Bayer looks to minimize Xarelto patent expiry, a new chief exec debuts for Alnylam and EY suggests 2022 will be another year of bolt-on deals. 

Daily notebook from the virtual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference: business development is top of mind for BMS, Merck, J&J and Pfizer, while Novartis, Moderna and Regeneron talk about next steps. Bayer looks to minimize Xarelto patent expiry, a new chief exec debuts for Alnylam and EY suggests 2022 will be another year of bolt-on deals. 

Pieris and Genentech try partnering again after a disappointing IO tie-up before. Biogen’s hectic May includes partnerships with Ginkgo, Envisagenics, Capsigen and an opt-in on TMS’s stroke candidate.