Acquisition activity in the biopharmaceutical sector saw a strong uptick in deal value and an exponential increase in total deal value during the fourth quarter, according to data from Evaluate.

Lilly looks To Elektrofi for help on subcutaneous injectable therapies, while NAYA will merge with INVO and acquire two antibodies from Cytovia. Plus deals involving Hummingbird/Endeavor, Basilea/Gravitas/Intron, Lilly/Mablink and Sotio/Synaffix.

Private Company Edition: The amount of venture capital investment in biopharma companies has shrunk from quarter to quarter, but the average deal size remained high until the third quarter. Larger rounds from Treeline, Odyssey and Neumora offset a plethora of smaller VC financings early in Q4. 

Janssen Biotech adds to its bispecific antibody pipeline for cancer via pair of collaborations. Ipsen and Accent pair up to investigate new target for acute myeloid leukemia.