The pharma licensed global rights to Scynexis’s Brexafemme, a first-in-class triterpenoid antifungal approved for treat and prevent recurrence of vaginal yeast infections, for $90m up front.

Ten Chinese biotechs raised at least a combined $221m in venture capital and private equity deals after the turn of the year.

Evopoint and Kaken also ring in the new year with multiple deals. Biocytogen licenses antibodies against a specified target derived from its RenMice platform technology to Hansoh Pharma.

The past year witnessed only one major acquisition of a Chinese biotech by a major pharma company. However, some established firms such as Hansoh have set a new course for collaboration with much smaller peers by in-licensing preclinical assets.