Merck & Co joins ranks of big pharma firms pursuing the SHP2 area of oncology as it picks up global rights to a portfolio of inhibitors originating from two affiliates of Japan's Otsuka Pharmaceutical.

BeiGene’s license agreement with Leap Therapeutics covers Asia, except for Japan, along with Australia and New Zealand. Apollomics obtains rights in China and beyond to GlycoMimetics’ e-selectin antagonists.

The JP Morgan conference uptick in biopharma deal-making has begun with more than 20 deals announced this week, including the latest Bayer/Evotec partnership and Pfizer’s cancer tie-up with eFFECTOR.

Otsuka subsidiary Astex plans filing in MDS by year-end for first oral decitabine product on the back of positive Phase III comparative results.