Start-up Insitro will attempt to optimize up to five NASH targets for Gilead under three-year alliance. Catalent buys gene therapy CDMO Paragon for $1.2bn, Boehringer partners with PureTech in GI cancer, while Fibrocell inks gene therapy pact with Castle Creek.

New Year brings a flurry of new executive moves in the life sciences sector in Asia Pacific, including the departure of BeiGene's chief commercial officer and a new chief strategy officer and CMO at Harbour Biomed.

Denali will collaborate with Sirion in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Meanwhile, Lundbeck and Elevian unveil drug development partnerships with technology firms at the J.P. Morgan meeting.

The demise of Vital after a crushing late-stage failure has given Immunic the opportunity to cross the Atlantic and grow its business and pipeline.