Gossamer took an infrequently used path to go public during a US government shutdown that's kept the SEC from processing new offerings. Also, IPO filings (and withdrawals) and follow-on offerings continued during the shutdown, while VC deals keep up a brisk pace.

Also, TapImmune merger with Marker could yield T-cell therapies that address multiple tumor-associated antigens with a better safety profile than CAR-T therapy. Bluebird and Medigene expand their TCR therapy collaboration.

Jeffrey Patrick joins Ohio State's effort to develop cancer drugs from internal research, bringing a biopharma viewpoint to optimizing such programs before the deal-making effort starts. Plus, the EMA sets a framework for academic interaction, and more tech transfer news.

At $1.2 billion, Q4 device financing was the second-lowest quarter of 2015; M&A dollar volume was also low, but included multiple deals across various cardiovascular markets. Diagnostics financing was also down in Q4, totaling $403 million; acquisitions were worth $441 million.