Arbutus Biopharma alleges Moderna refused to license patents covering its lipid nanoparticle delivery platform in developing Spikevax. Moderna says it created its own proprietary LNP delivery technology.

Among the topics at the European liver meeting was whether reducing HBV surface antigen might be part of a combination approach to curing chronic hepatitis B. One of the leaders in this approach, Arbutus, is working toward its own internal combo therapy for the virus.

Busy stretch before Christmas holidays sees two deals around oncolytic virus therapeutics, a Middle East partnership for Orexigen’s Contrave, immuno-oncology deals involving Pfizer and ElsaLys, and Roche and ImmuNext partnering to develop drugs targeting the VISTA pathway.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Dealmaking column is a survey of recent health care transactions listed by relevant industry segment – In Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, and Research/Analytical – and then categorized by type – Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing. This month’s column covers deals announced December 2014-January 2015.