Private Company Edition: Flare Therapeutics, targeting transcription factors to discover precision medicines, had big pharma backing for its second venture capital financing. Also, Mediar closed a $10m series A round, Switch launched with $52m and EpiBiologics raised a $50m series A round.

Neuroscience and oncology fuel high hopes for therapeutic R&D progress among 90-plus surveyed biopharma industry leaders.

Galderma said its IL-31 receptor alpha inhibitor nemolizumab succeeded in two Phase III atopic dermatitis trials, advancing the firm’s long-term goal of moving past topical dermatology drugs.

This week, we learned that the US FDA thinks Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain interface device isn’t ready for human trials.  Additionally, J&J cut about 300 medtech jobs, Stryker launched a knee implant, and Active Implants’ meniscus replacement device made it to the FDA’s advisory panel calendar.