Private Company Edition: Immunocore’s $130m round kicked off a series of $100m-plus venture capital deals, including financings for Xilio, Akouos and Pliant. Also, VC investment in cell and gene therapies surged in 2019 and MPM launched two funds with $126 for early cancer research.

Although there was no major acquisition starting out the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, the deal-making flow has been steady. Pfizer licensed a neurodegenerative disease candidate to Biogen, while also selling Axsome rights to reboxetine in narcolepsy and fibromyalgia. Biogen signed a neurology R&D collaboration with CAMP4 as well.

AstraZeneca takes second license of antisense candidate under 2012 pact with Ionis, this time for kidney disease. Aldeyra is working with J&J on novel immune-modulating drugs for systemic inflammatory conditions.

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 February 2017.