Timm Jessen, CEO of Topas Therapeutics, talks to Scrip's Lucie Ellis about his journey through the pharma and biotech sector and what lies ahead for his current company.

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 August 2017.

Eli Lilly is impressed with the privately held German biotech spun out of Evotec which is pursuing a novel liver-based immune tolerance approach.

This week’s roundup includes various high-level appointments by companies including Vencerx Therapeutics, which has elected a new CEO, Shield Therapeutics, Crescendo Biologics, Pluristem Therapeutics, Sarepta Therapeutics and Verona Pharma.