Finance Watch has noted $1.1bn worth of venture capital deals so far in 2019. Meanwhile, public offerings continue to be muted by the US government shutdown, though Revance and others sold shares. Also, Five Prime and others reveal layoffs and strategic shifts.

With Phase III data in 2,800 patients for reducing frown lines, ReVance anticipates filing RT002 for US approval in 2019. ABL licenses two bispecific antibody candidates to TRIGR, while Sun looks to expand in dermatology with Pola buyout.

Medical aesthetics is a unique biopharmaceutical niche that may scare off companies due to the consumer marketing and doctor relationship-building skills needed to compete in this market, but the potential for growth keeps major players engaged and searching for new technology.

Medical aesthetics is a unique biopharmaceutical niche that may scare off companies due to the consumer marketing and doctor relationship-building skills needed to compete in this market, but the potential for growth keeps major players engaged and searching for new technology.