The center is partnering with Obsidian to make autologous TILs work better after being infused back into patients by using IL-15, which may be less toxic than the high-dose IL-2 currently used.

AlloVir/Baylor, Soligenix/Hawaii and CEL-SCI/Georgia ink coronavirus collaborations, but deal-making continues in other areas as well, including Asklepios/UNC teaming on a gene therapy for Angelman syndrome and DeMelle licensing a targeted pancreatic cancer drug from Moffitt, among others.

Biotech licenses drug composition patents from University of Alaska Fairbanks for study in several disease states. Gilead seeks long-acting HIV therapy or prevention with broadly neutralizing antibodies discovered by Rockefeller U.

Blueprint and Zymeworks raise $300m-plus in follow-on offerings. Also, Arcutis, Black Diamond and Annovis bring the 2020 US IPO count to four; Spring Bank, Surface Oncology and Decibel reveal strategic shifts; and Harmony’s $200m in venture debt leads recent VC deals.