The company Novartis is buying for $9.7bn is largely unrecognizable from the one Clive Meanwell started in 1996, grew into a multi-product hospital specialist and began to sunset in 2015 with the loss of Angiomax.

New approvals in the EU were again dominated by oncology drugs in 2018, although medicines for infectious diseases were a close second. The number of orphan drugs more than doubled over the previous year, to 17. There were also some star arrivals in multiple sclerosis, genetic disorders, metabolism and migraine.

New drug approvals in the EU were again dominated by oncology in 2018, although medicines for infectious diseases came a close second. The number of orphan drugs more than doubled over the previous year, to 17. There were also some key new arrivals in the areas of multiple sclerosis, genetic disorders, metabolism and migraine.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Venture Funding Deals column provides a comprehensive monthly review of emerging biopharmaceutical companies that have received venture funding. This month’s column covers deals announced September and October 2018.