NIBR's Bradner talked to Scrip about how AveXis turbo-charged Novartis' gene therapy development, investing in inflammasome research, and partnering nimbly like a venture capitalist.

Q1 biopharma financing totaled $5.7 billion, a sharp drop from Q4, but this time early-stage venture rounds were the most popular fundraising vehicle;Q1 M&A also declined, totaling $12.3 billion, mostly from Mylan's $9.9 billion buy of Meda. The top alliance was again by Sanofi, in a five-year potential $2.26 billion collaboration with DiCE Molecules to develop oral small-molecule therapies against up to 12 targets.

Nestle Health signed a $1.9 billion microbiome deal with Seres; Thermo Fisher paid $1.3 billion for fellow life sciences company Affymetrix. Biopharma and device financing totaled $2.9 billion and $254 million, respectively.

IN VIVO’s editors pick January's top alliance, financing and M&A deals (free with registration).