Pipeline Watch is a weekly snapshot of selected late-stage clinical trial events announced by pharmaceutical and biotech companies at medical and industry conferences, in financial and company presentations, and in company releases and statements.

Option to acquire a company developing a CB1-targeted antibody for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis gets Johnson & Johnson into the race. Janssen’s James List explains how the NASH venture fits into J&J’s growing efforts in metabolic disease.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Dealmaking column is a survey of recent health care transactions listed by relevant industry segment – In Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceuticals – and then categorized by type – Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing. This month’s column covers deals announced in November 2016.

Partnership with France’s Enterome will add a microbiome aspect to Bristol’s immuno-oncology efforts, while its license of Japanese firm Nitto Denko’s siRNA technology could bolster NASH combo therapy development. Meanwhile, Eagle moves into biosimilars with the purchase of Arsia for up to $78m.