Here are the latest stories being discussed in biopharma today:

1. Merck is actively seeking billion-dollar deal opportunities, similar to its acquisitions of Prometheus Biosciences and Acceleron. During its recent Q4 earnings call, Merck CEO Rob Davis stated that while he’s happy with the company’s progress, he believes it needs more. In this regard, the firm remains interested in deals and collaborations like those with Prometheus and Acceleron.

2. Recent trends suggest a possible turnaround in the field of biotech dealmaking. As the pandemic boom period subsides, the industry saw a few bright spots towards the end of 2023, which could signal a healthy surge through 2024, contingent upon certain macro factors.

3. Schrödinger has made significant progress using AlphaFold, particularly in drug research & development. The company claims to have devised a way to validate and refine AI-generated predictions, which could expedite drug discovery and offer a new way to test substance toxicity.

4. A former researcher from Jim Wilson’s gene therapy lab at the University of Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit against Wilson and the university. The plaintiff, Susan Faust, alleges the parties secretly profited from her inventions and obstructed her attempts to commercialize the technology.

5. Several healthcare companies have recently launched funding efforts. Basking Biosciences raised $55 million while European-based VC firm, Seroba, closed a $134 million fund. Vera Therapeutics announced an upsized $250 million offering.

6. Following an R&D review, Roche has decided to cut several mid-stage candidates from its neurology portfolio and oncology/hematology portfolios. However, the process also resulted in additional pipeline additions and recently announced acquisitions and partnerships.