A review of biopharma start-up dealmaking and financing from October through December 2016, based on data from Strategic Transactions.

Novartis is under pressure to deliver new drugs in areas like oncology, cardiovascular disease and dermatology, where it is making significant investments. Chief Medical Officer Vasant Narasimhan talked about the company’s strategy in these areas and others, the company’s recent R&D reorganization and business development in an interview during the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.

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 December 2016.

Busy stretch before Christmas holidays sees two deals around oncolytic virus therapeutics, a Middle East partnership for Orexigen’s Contrave, immuno-oncology deals involving Pfizer and ElsaLys, and Roche and ImmuNext partnering to develop drugs targeting the VISTA pathway.