A new national project to support bioventures and the venture capital funds investing in them has started in Japan. The strategic aim of the JPY50bn initiative is to enhance the speed of development and trials of new drugs and vaccines for infectious diseases, the lack of which became obvious since the breakout of COVID-19. 

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 July 2017.

Analyst speculates that Gilead could move to acquire Spring Bank if combo trial yields promising data for functional cure of hepatitis B. Eisai in-licenses PARP inhibitor with potential in breast cancer from Oncology Venture, while Sunovion out-licenses three corticosteroid products to Covis.