Aspen Neuroscience, Pandion and iTeos raised $70m, $80m and $125m, respectively. Also, Glide Healthcare closed a €416m ($450m) fund; ElevateBio, Kallyope and SutroVax reveal VC mega-rounds; and Dragonfly adds new funding to its partnering proceeds. 

Semma's innovative technology involves growing insulin-producing beta cells from stem cells and transplanting them into the liver, but it hasn't been tested in humans yet.

CEO Michael Gilman, who now helms the company full time, said Arrakis will use its Series B venture capital funding to build a pipeline of drug candidates, primarily in cancer, with the goal of taking its first medicines into the clinic in the next two to three years.

Industry and academic representatives shared viewpoints at Biotech Week Boston in September 2018, including what is unique about deal-making in the cell and gene field.