Partnership will combine AbCellera’s screening of antibodies to the virus with Lilly’s development, commercial capabilities. Vir adds Biogen tie-up to its ongoing coronavirus efforts.

Plus news on recent financing activity by Vivus, Aragon, 4s3 Bioscience and Amicus.

Highlights from the Q4 2009 review of start-up dealmaking: Fundraising in the biopharma, medical device, and in vitro diagnostics industries totaled $976 million, an 88% increase from the previous quarter, and a 77% jump from Q4 2008's $551 million. Of the total fundraising, 66% or $640 million went to the biopharma industry. Compared with Q3 2009, device fundraising rose by 85% (from $113 million to $209 million) and diagnostics companies raised 72% more (from $74 million to $127 million). The fourth quarter of 2009 saw eight acquisitions, all of them in the biopharma industry. Big Pharmas were busy signing deals with start-ups--Sanofi-Aventis inked three while Roche and Novartis AG each signed two.

The dealmaking column is a survey of recent transactions, including strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions, and financings, in the life sciences industries. Deals are listed by the following industry sectors: in vitro diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and research/analytical instrumentation and reagents. All transactions are excerpted from Elsevier's Strategic Transactions database, providing comprehensive transaction coverage from 1991 to the present.