Scrip highlights the key transactions involving Indian firms in 2019. Divestments and licensing were among the prominent themes that dotted the deal landscape in the year gone by.

Strides founder Arun Kumar says he’s succeeded in putting the company back on the road to health after it shocked financial markets by swinging to a quarterly loss last year. But as part of the recovery plan, the company is selling its key Australia generic business to “double-down” on the US market.

Newly renamed Flagship Pioneering has raised a $285m venture capital fund to remain invested in portfolio companies as they grow. Also, 12 new and growing biopharma companies raised $657.15m.

The firm’s $260m Series D is the largest ever for biopharma in China and one of the biggest of the year worldwide; other notable financings go to Biohaven, Kymab and Magenta. Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Venture Funding Deals column provides a comprehensive monthly review of emerging biopharmaceutical companies that have received venture funding. This month’s column covers deals announced October through early December.