Canaan Partners-backed biotech will investigate the therapeutic potential of three-way junctions in folded RNA. UC Berkeley and Duke sign separate license agreements related to CRISPR gene-editing technology.

Recent executive-level company changes and promotions in the biopharma, medical device, and diagnostics industries.

Two Western big pharmas struck back-to-back deals this week with two U.S. biopharmas and will bring their innovative drugs to Asia without a local partner. The details of the deals are different, but both signal a willingness on the part of biopharmas to partner with experienced, feet-on-the-ground Western companies as a route into emerging Asian markets, though they’ll still need to find a local partner down the road.

Start-Up's monthly comprehensive review of emerging life science companies that have received venture funding during the month, including companies in the pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic and research instrumentation and reagent sectors.