Takeda has started off the new year by continuing down the path of partnerships to strengthen its core therapeutic areas, this time linking up with a US academic spin-out for a potential oral therapy for celiac disease.

Takeda continues to expand its interests in the gastrointestinal area through a joint research and development agreement with a small US venture for novel nanoparticle immune modulating therapies for celiac disease.

While not as high-profile as some other venture raises over the last year, Novimmune has pulled in CHF 200.5 million in Series B financing over 16 years. Plus, news on raises by Pronutria, Melinta, Argos and Arrowhead.

New company Sitari will try to develop first drug therapy for celiac disease. Portfolio companies launched by GSK and Avalon also will have their own, dedicated CRO-like organization to handle much of their work.