More C-Suite level pharma executives are lending their domain expertise to private equity firms, which then use their skills for commercial due diligence on targets or in an operating partner role in portfolio companies once a deal is sealed. PEs are also increasingly opting for control deals, at least in India, with an aim to run the acquired firm professionally thereon.

Antios thinks ATI-2173, which employs the Pharmasset liver-targeting chemistry used in HCV blockbuster Sovaldi, can help produce a functional cure in hepatitis B combination therapy.

EcoR1 and Casdin/Corvex took their second and third special purpose acquisition corporations public. Also, Ionis sold notes to buy back older notes and fund operations as it cut 70% of Akcea’s staff. In venture capital, ValenzaBio raised $70m and RA boosted Metagenomi’s series A to $75m.

Major Japanese firm sets targets under a new mid-term plan that envisages the US oncology sector leading growth and revenues, and also casts an eye to novel assets beyond three pillar antibody-drug conjugates and new digital technologies.