UK life sciences sector leaders are pleased to have attracted Flagship Pioneering to invest in the country, as its CEO Noubar Afeyan emphasizes that its initial focus would be on early ‘experiments’ in innovation and cultural bridge-building.

Ampersand Biomedicines has emerged from stealth mode with a new CEO, and aims to shake up oncology and immunology with a new tissue-specific approach to targeting medicines.

With cash preservation in mind, Rubius will dissolve, while EQRx, Impel, Cybin and Graphite cut jobs. Meanwhile, Jounce is restructuring and it plans to merge with Redx, yet the dually troubled firms MEI Pharma and Infinity will combine, while VBL will disappear in a reverse merger with Notable Labs. 

Former Novartis executive and venture capitalist David Epstein will step in to lead Seagen after its founder resigned in a scandal and amid M&A speculation.