Health technology assessment body NICE has welcomed further discussion between Orchard Therapeutics and the National Health Service to resolve its concerns over the company’s one-time gene therapy for the neurodegenerative disorder, metachromatic leukodystrophy, in children.

Private Company Edition: Dyno’s first VC round will enable more deals for its novel AAV platform; Eikon pioneers new drug discovery technology. Also, Treeline’s early funding revealed at $211.7m; Capsida raised $140m from a VC round, AbbVie deal; and Affinia closed a $110m series B round. 

Taysha gains control of GAN candidate and program; BI licenses COMT inhibitors from Lieber Institute; plus three new gene therapy-driven tie-ups between biopharma and academia.

Following last year's licensing deal with Precision Biosciences and the acquisition of Prevail Therapeutics, Eli Lilly is expanding its gene therapy efforts by backing Jaguar, a start-up staffed by former AveXis bosses.