Private Company Edition: The astonishing pace of venture capital investment in drug development continues with another $1.5bn in financings of $100m or more, including $152m for Pyxis and $126m for Omega. New VC funds also continue to launch, including RiverVest’s fifth fund, totaling $275m.

News of 5AM's two latest venture funds follows the launch of Longevity Vision Fund as well as LA BioMed's and RUNLABS’ announcements that they will open new incubators in 2019. Also, Passage Bio launches with $115.5m, but the largest recent VC deal was HaiHe's $146.6m financing.

2018 was a banner year for venture funding, and Relay's December Series C was only the third largest VC round of the year. Other year-end financings include Millendo, Erasca, Aristea and more... 

The company isn't relaying any details about its drug targets, but will use the mega-round to take its first candidates into the clinic. Also, RiverVest raises a $184.4m VC fund, Annexon closes a $75m Series C, Takeda lists its stock in the US, and Aptorum goes public.