With Bayer’s venture arm providing $215m, Versant Ventures’ Century Therapeutics emerges with $250m and a plan to develop allogeneic stem cell therapies for various cancers, including solid tumors.

Capsid assembly modulation, small-interfering RNA, a TLR7 agonist and a DNA-based vaccine are some of the components of the pharma’s strategy for bringing about significant advancement in hepatitis B therapy.

Two deals have resulted in the formerly shingles-focused biotech beginning to build an HBV pipeline and look ahead to therapeutic advances similar to those seen in HIV and hepatitis C. But the New Jersey biotech will be competing with some deep-pocketed competitors in the space.

WuXi AppTec is planning to spin out its biologics CRO/CMO unit in a Hong Kong IPO that is likely to raise at least $367m, sources have confirmed. The new funding would provide the fast-growing Wuxi Biologics subsidiary with the freedom and resources to make its own pipeline portfolio decisions.