Biotech licenses drug composition patents from University of Alaska Fairbanks for study in several disease states. Gilead seeks long-acting HIV therapy or prevention with broadly neutralizing antibodies discovered by Rockefeller U.

Private Company Edition: General Partner Clay Thorp says the venture capital firm's longtime focus on seed and early-stage investments is unchanged and bolstered by market fundamentals. Also, Talaris and insitro each raised $100m Series A rounds, plus other financings.

The start-up incubated by Atlas Venture is focused on the delivery of nucleic acids and other molecules to skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscles. The Series A round will allow Dyne to take its lead program for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) into the clinic.

Funded entirely by grants and partnerships to date, Affinivax’s pneumococcal vaccine candidate has begun a Phase I/II study less than five year’s after the biotech’s founding. Firm thinks its technology may eventually apply to immuno-oncology as well.