ARM counts $14.1bn in fundraising in the first half of 2021, up 35% from mid-year 2020. Also, Chinese mRNA players Abogen raises a $700m series C venture capital round, Pfizer prices a $1bn sustainability bond and while IPOs slow in the US, China and South Korea see new first-time offerings.

With nearly 3,500 therapies in development globally, and almost $480m in start-up financing in Q1 of 2021 alone, the cell, gene and RNA therapy area is seeing a sharp rise in development and attention. 

Taysha gains control of GAN candidate and program; BI licenses COMT inhibitors from Lieber Institute; plus three new gene therapy-driven tie-ups between biopharma and academia.

Following last year's licensing deal with Precision Biosciences and the acquisition of Prevail Therapeutics, Eli Lilly is expanding its gene therapy efforts by backing Jaguar, a start-up staffed by former AveXis bosses.