Gossamer Bio, led by former Receptos CEO Faheem Hasnain and CMO Sheila Gujrathi, revealed $100m in seed and Series A funding during a week in which 17 companies revealed VC rounds totaling $891.2m, giving them good news to discuss during the J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference.

French biotech Horama has built-up its executive team and has two potential gene therapies for retinitis pigmentosa nearing the clinic.

In Q3, biopharma financing totaled $7.4 billion, a large proportion of which was by rare disease developers; among the highlights in the $23 billion in M&As was Allergan's buying spree, including two NASH companies. Just over $20 billion went into biopharma alliance dealmaking, and neurology assets attracted many of the dollars.

Allergan will pay $200m to exercise its option to buy Motus Therapeutics (formerly Rhythm Health) after what the pharma described as a successful Phase IIb study for relamorelin in diabetic gastroparesis.