Approval is unlikely before 2027 but Sweden’s InDex has done the maths and decided that it can launch cobitolimod across the Atlantic on its own with a staff of around 100.

Private Company Edition: Perceptive/Xontogeny, Abingworth, Kizoo and Droia closed venture capital funds. New biopharma VC financings also include a $105m series C round for Elpiscience and $92m for newly launched Interline. 

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 November 2016.

Merck could pay up to $167m to try a new epigenetic target, which would build on its existing HDAC inhibitor. Meanwhile, Celgene buys epigenetics-focused Acetylon, which will spin out new company Regenacy to work with its lead HDAC6 inhibitor outside of oncology.