Evolving challenges will keep the COVID-19 pipeline active, while oncology, immunology and CNS are areas also expected to see much progress in 2022. Industry executives look forward to the year in therapeutic R&D.

Private Company Edition: Former Juno execs launch allogeneic cell therapy venture Sana, Atlas raises a $250m fund, and the Rakuten Aspyrian, Apollomics and Antengene VC deals exceed the $100m mark.

Ambrx, Arcus, Cleave Biosciences, InflaRx, MonoSol Rx, Nevakar and Tioma Therapeutics were among firms raising more than $30m in venture funding in July and August. Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Venture Funding Deals column provides a comprehensive review of emerging biopharmaceutical companies that have received venture funding during the past two months.

Having raised a precedent-setting $450m venture capital round in January 2015, Moderna is well on its way to a planned $600m additional fundraising. The privately held company is keeping quiet about what it's doing with all that cash. Tioma, Nutrina and Avelas are among other firms receiving VC financing.