In its continuing efforts to diversify away from opioid pain drugs, Purdue partners on non-opioid program with Alivio. Rigel licenses Tavalisse rights in all indications go to Spain’s Grifols.

Already a significant investor in the health care technology firm, buyout will give Roche access to substantial real-world cancer development data. Astellas acquires stem cell-focused Universal Cells.

With backing from Bayer and others, the US-based venture will develop iPSC therapies for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases; other notable new financings involve Cerevance, Goldfinch Bio, NeuroPharma and Tenaya. 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 November through December 2016.

229 alliance deals were signed in the pain management sector between 2012 and November 2016, worth more than $1bn in upfront payments and around $11bn in total potential value. But an increase in deals for riskier, earlier stage assets has pushed down upfront payment values for the sector, knocking it out of sync with other therapy areas.