Germany's pain-focused specialty pharmaceutical firm is adding America to its commercial reach, through acquiring New York's Averitas Pharma to jumpstart its push to commercialize products on its own account, via a niche approach.

Biopharma start-ups had a record-breading quarter in terms of fundraising. A review of biopharma start-up deal-making and financing activity from April through June 2018, based on data from Strategic Transactions.

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.

Gilead’s tie-up with Google’s Verily will explore the immunological underpinnings of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and GI disorders. Janssen acquires BeneVir and its oncolytic virus expertise, while United Therapeutics buys out SteadyMed.