Biogen is Capsigen’s first partner, while Dyno Therapeutics has also entered into deals potentially worth billions with large drug and biotech firms.

Following a memorable cancer drug advisory panel meeting where FDA explained how accelerated approvals may be more at risk due to changing standard of care, ChemoCentryx’s ANCA-vasculitis treatment runs into trouble because of another drug’s changing indication during their Phase III study.

Near tie goes to the US FDA? While almost every member of the Arthritis Advisory Committee agreed with agency’s assessment that ChemoCentryx’s trial of avacopan for ANCA vasculitis was poorly designed, making it hard to tease out the drug’s benefit-risk profile, about half were in favor of approval due to the potential to spare patients from the adverse effects of steroids. Others said the sponsor didn’t meet the agency’s standard for approval off just one pivotal study.

Private Company Edition: Dyno’s first VC round will enable more deals for its novel AAV platform; Eikon pioneers new drug discovery technology. Also, Treeline’s early funding revealed at $211.7m; Capsida raised $140m from a VC round, AbbVie deal; and Affinia closed a $110m series B round.