In a busy month, MD Anderson also partners with Ipsen on an unspecified cancer drug and licenses poziotinib IP to Spectrum. Using IP from UCLA, Bloom launches with focus on neuroprotective epilepsy therapies.

Amgen has negotiated 75 value-based contracts – agreements that SVP Josh Ofman sees as one area where biopharma and payer views are aligned. However, tension between the two sides remains high in pricing and reimbursement negotiations when it comes to rebates and other issues.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Dealmaking column is a survey of recent health care transactions listed by relevant industry segment – In Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceuticals – and then categorized by type – Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing. This month’s column covers deals announced in December 2016.

Optogenetics – technology to control neurons with light – has swept through basic neuroscience research. Efforts to commercialize optogenetics are complex, but a spunky group of start-ups plan to develop therapies using the technology.