Privately held Cirius and NGM and big pharma Bristol-Myers Squibb are in Phase II for NASH with programs also working to validate non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment impact.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Dealmaking column is a survey of recent health care transactions listed by relevant industry segment – In Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceuticals – and then categorized by type – Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing. This month’s column covers deals announced in June 2017.

Lilly nabbed multiple molecules for its early-stage diabetes portfolio via a $55m-plus partnership with KeyBioscience, making sure that the big pharma's pipeline continues to add products to its largest franchise.

No longer quiet NGM Bio unveils Phase II data at EASL showing rapid and significant reductions of hepatic fat, while Bristol announces a partnership to produce a non-invasive diagnostic for NASH and presents promising Phase II data for its FGF21 analogue.