A first big pharma partnership for Ascidian, headed up by ex-Biogen research head Michael Ehlers, as the Swiss firm expands its gene editing and neuroscience efforts.

More than 100 biopharma executives and experts told Scrip their predictions for therapeutic area advances in the coming year. The recent commercial success of GLP-1s in diabetes and obesity and their potential in further disease areas fuelled excitement around the metabolic space. Expectations were also positive in neurology following the launch of Leqembi for Alzheimer’s disease in 2023, while the multiple opportunities to improve cancer treatment kept oncology top of the pile overall.

Private Company Edition: Revelation Partners amassed $608m, Bioluminescence Ventures emerged with $477m and Abingworth raised $356m for late-stage programs. In recent financings, MapLight closed a $225m series C round while Triveni launched with $92m and Gate garnered $60m in series A rounds.

Private Company Edition: In other $100m-plus venture capital rounds, Third Harmonic Bio emerged with $155m, including a new $105m series B round. Also, Europe- and Japan-focused Newton Biocapital launched its second VC fund with €50m in initial capital and a €150m fundraising goal.