Also, CRO Syneos Health appointed an executive to its newly created DE&I position, while Alterity started a new Phase II study in multiple system atrophy, Antabio dosed the first patients in its Phase I study of an antibiotic for hospital infections, and Structure Therapeutics started a Phase IIa trial of its GLP-1 agonist in obesity and diabetes, with plans for a Phase IIb trial in 2024.

With only weeks to go in 2022, the three major pharmas each had inked between 16 and 20 deals. Meanwhile, Pfizer has been less busy with 12 deals, but those include M&A totaling $18.2bn.

VC Investment in South Korea’s biopharma sector drops again as investors continue to shy away amid higher interest rates and reduced out-licensing deals.

Private Company Edition: Third quarter venture capital funding for biopharmaceutical firms fell from Q2, but activity remains near all-time highs year-to-date. Several companies announced VC financings in early October, including Ascidian, which launched with $50m in series A financing.