On the new company creation front, using Series A financings as a proxy, start-ups have not escaped the challenging funding environment. Here we update trends in those first-time rounds for 2023.

Chinese firm Hasten has gained greater China rights to LIB Therapeutics’ lerodalcibep for hypercholesterolemia and believes its bet on the unique PCSK9-binding small protein will be backed by strong commercialization capability, the company says in an interview with Scrip.

Plus deals involving Astellas/Menarini, Maruho/Fortress Biotech, Zenas/Bristol Myers Squibb, Huadong Medicine/MC2 and more.

Armed with highly satisfactory Phase III cholesterol-lowering data, the private group is heading to market alone – though it is open to offers.