Rumors have resurfaced that Novartis is looking to shift some of its eye drugs but the Basle-based behemoth tells Scrip it remains committed to in-market products and R&D projects in the ophthalmology space.

Getting hold of Kedalion's device that delivers topical drugs to the eye with comparable effect but with up to an 80% reduction in dose compared to standard eye drops bodes well for Novartis's ophthalmology business.

New $150m Series C round brings Orchard's tally to nearly $300m, just four months after the start-up acquired a portfolio of gene therapy candidates from GSK and eight months after a $110m round. Gritstone closed a Series C then announced an IPO filing, plus more late-summer VC rounds.

Private investors, including Japanese e-commerce mogul Hiroshi Mikitani, backed a $150m Series C round for Rakuten Aspyrian and its photoimmunotherapy platform. Also, pharma-backed therapeutic video game developer Akili boosts Series C to $68m, and Summit garners additional BARDA funding.