The start-up is built around four business units – technology, manufacturing, R&D and therapeutics – based on internal and external expertise. Kriya will take its first gene therapies into the clinic in 2023. 

Deal Snapshot: Building on a 2021 tie-up between Takeda and the Paragon start-up, Evozyne will seek novel protein sequences for inclusion in gene therapies for rare disease indications.

Alnylam seeks royalties, claiming its lipid nanoparticle technology is a component of both Moderna’s and Pfizer’s vaccines. Moderna calls Alnylam’s suit ‘blatant opportunism.’ Acuitas sues Arbutus seeking declaratory judgement that Comirnaty does not infringe its LPN technology.

Totals for aggregate deals and in the M&A, alliance and divestment categories were similar among the 10 busiest deal makers from 2020 to 2021, but COVID-19 may have driven a more hectic deal-making pace overall in 2020.