Lilly partners with Kumquat to discover small molecule IO drug. Kite, Appia Bio collaborate on allogeneic cell therapies. AstraZeneca and Regeneron pursue novel metabolic therapies targeting GPR75. Lexeo and Stelios merge to focus on gene therapies for rare cardiovascular indications.

Private Company Edition: venBio’s new fund plus Ysios Capital’s recent €216m ($260m) fund adds up to $810m in fresh venture capital for life science companies. Also, Nikang and Esco attracted $200m each in VC investment, Pulmocide closed a $92m series C round and Stablix launched with $63m. 

The USITC has issued a final determination in the long-running botulinum toxin dispute between Daewoong and Medytox, sharply cutting the length of Daewoong’s product import ban and reversing its initial decision with respect to Medytox’s bacterial strain. But the dispute seems poised to continue as Daewoong vows further legal steps.

USITC’s initial decision in the Medytox and Daewoong botulinum dispute is favorable to Medytox and poised to take a toll on the Korean firm and partner Evolus as they face a 10-year ban on imports of their product to the US.