During Q3, biopharma merger and acquisition value reached $15.4bn and drew in $37.6bn in potential deal value from alliances. Device company M&A values reached $550m, while in vitro diagnostic firms and research tools players completed M&A activity that totaled $1.9bn.

Plus agreements involving Hansoh/GHDDI, BriaCell/UMBC, Novartis/UC Berkeley, NeoPhore/Memorial Sloan Kettering, GEn1E/UM-Baltimore, ValoTx/University of Helsinki and Sosei/Cancer Research UK.

An analysis of the Korea Drug Development Fund’s selection of projects for R&D grants so far this year shows more applications and particular support for domestic cell and gene therapy projects, reflecting the strong interest in this area globally.

Good news in the biopharma industry and the US economy gave public drug developers the boost they needed to raise cash, including Karuna’s $750m offering. Private company financings slowed during the second week of August, but Prellis and Vector BioPharma raised venture capital.