BioMed X teams with J&J on inflammation, drug delivery research. Stem cell firm Calidi inks licensing deals with U. of Chicago, City of Hope and Northwestern. MD Anderson teams with Blueprint and Hummingbird.

Japan grants ground-breaking approval for Daiichi oncolytic virus in brain cancer on condition of additional data. The nod marks another step forward in the firm's strategic global pivot to oncology. 

Deal Snapshot: Sentynl will pay $20m in upfront and regulatory milestone payments through FDA approval, while Cyprium will retain 100% ownership of the priority review voucher.

Around 100 executives highlight the hot areas to watch on the R&D front in 2021. From cancer to CNS and from regenerative medicine to real world data, expectations are high on many fronts.