The New York biotech announces option deals with two universities, asset license from CBM BioPharma. Bayer inks research collaborations with Japan’s RiKen and with a pair of Boston research hospitals.

CJ Group plans to sell its healthcare affiliate, in what could potentially emerge as the first major M&A deal involving a South Korean pharma firm in recent years. Although the company has not ruled out the option of an initial public offering as an alternative, the sale plan possibly reflects the changing dynamics in the Korean pharma industry.

China’s healthcare sector was back to actively raising proceeds from the capital markets in March and April, which witnessed more than 20 IPOs in total, with a stream of other listings being planned.

The China FDA’s new priority reviews and faster approval procedures for innovative drugs are beginning to bear fruit, with multinationals and patients among the first beneficiaries from recent clearances from two novel cancer drugs in this large emerging market.