Private Company Edition: Pitchbook is out with an early look at its venture capital expectations for next year, showing continued interest in seed financings and fewer $100m-plus mega-rounds. Recent VC deals include a $75m series B financing for Alpha-9 Theranostics and $71.6m for A2 Biotherapeutics. 

Deal Snapshot: German firm gets license rights to Ryvu’s STING agonist portfolio in addition to collaborating on immunomodulators. Ryvu adds need cash via upfront and equity payments from BioNTech.

Novel candidate acquired from Ganymed in 2016 moves closer to first approval filing anywhere for a CLDN18-targeting antibody, and as a potential competitor for Opdivo in HER2-negative gastric cancer, following positive top-line Phase III results in the first-line combo setting. Results from GLOW trial in combination with CAPOX also awaited.

Gilead’s Kite is the current leader in CAR-T, but is looking for ways to stay ahead of competitors and find safer and more effective next-generation therapies.