Interview: delivering on its US business strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic has required a focus on communication, according to Calliditas CEO Renee Aguiar-Lucander.

Private Company Watch: Neuron23, Neurogene and Locanabio each raised $100m or more, highlighting increased investor interest in novel approaches to neurological diseases. Also, CRO dMed raised $100m and MinervaX brought in $57m for its vaccine to protect newborns. 

Pharma pays $50m up front to tap insitro’s in vitro modeling technology, partners with Sensyne Health in blood disorders. Lilly’s COVID-19 partner AbCellera teams with Kodiak in ophthalmology R&D.

The rare disease-focused firm will pay $90m up front to acquire Orphan Technologies and its Phase I/II enzyme replacement therapy for homocystinuria. Earnouts up to $427m are possible as well.