At the end of Jay Bradner’s interview for Fierce JPM Week, the Novartis innovation chief turned to the camera and implored small biotechs to get in touch to talk M&A or potential partnerships.

JLABS has grown into a massive organization that spans the globe and is helping big ideas from small beginnings get off the ground.

In its continued efforts to use AI to discover potential new drug candidates, then predict whether those therapies will work in an individual patient, the U.K.-based Exscientia has found a hometown hero to lead the charge.

The CEO of newly formed ProtaGene says drug innovation and competition is increasing demand for CROs with analytics expertise.

Hal Barron, M.D., is leaving GlaxoSmithKline. After four years as chief scientific officer, Barron is leaving to take up the CEO post at a deep-pocketed, wildly ambitious biotech startup—leaving Pfizer veteran Tony Wood, Ph.D., in charge of the scientific side of the company.

Ceptur Therapeutics wants to challenge existing drug technologies by going after pre-mRNA to evade competition for engagement and gene silencing. The Philadelphia biotech picked up $75 million in series A funds for its Wednesday launch.

No bone cement, no problem. Smith & Nephew will now offer both cemented and cementless partial knee implants, thanks to the recent acquisition of Engage Surgical and its cement-free technology.

Altos Labs just redefined big in biotech. Where to start? The $3 billion in investor support? The C-suite staffed by storied leaders—Barron, Bishop, Klausner—identifiable by one name? Or the wildly ambitious plan to reverse disease for patients of any age? Altos is all that and more.

After beating out Johnson & Johnson’s Stelara in psoriasis in 2020, UCB’s bispecific inhibitor has wracked up another phase 3 win by improving multiple signs of function, pain and inflammation in patients with a spinal arthritis condition.

Eli Lilly is busy making deals days after the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference wrapped. The Indianapolis Big Pharma signed collaborations with biopharma partner Evotec in a potentially $1 billion biobucks pact and with Abbisko Therapeutics in a deal worth up to $258 million.