Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc and Werewolf Therapeutics Inc. signed a licensing pact that could be worth more than $1.26 billion, assigning Jazz exclusive global development and commercialization rights to Werewolf's preclinical cancer prospect, WTX-613, a conditionally activated interferon (IFN)-alpha molecule known as an Indukine that emerged from Werewolf’s Predator protein engineering platform.

Biocircuit Technologies Inc. has joined forces with Smithfield Bioscience Inc. to scale up a medical alternative to sutures for repairing nerves on the peripheral side of the body damaged in an accident or during surgery. Nerve Tape is an implantable device composed of decellularized porcine tissue embedded with microhooks that attach to damaged nerves and may heal them more quickly and safely than conventional sutures.

Elekta AB signed a commercial agreement with GE Healthcare Co. Ltd. to expand hospital access to radiotherapy. Marlborough, Mass.-based GE Healthcare said it will combine its precision imaging solutions with Elekta’s radiation therapy portfolio to provide hospitals worldwide with a more comprehensive oncology offering.

Bioventus LLC continues to strengthen its portfolio through acquisitions and investments with a move to exercise its option to purchase Cartiheal Ltd. for $315 million up front and a potential payment of $135 million contingent on achievement of $100 million in trailing 12-month sales. The Cartiheal transaction follows the acquisition of Bioness Inc. and Misonix Inc. last year. Cartiheal developed the Agili-C implant, which received FDA breakthrough device designation in 2020 and premarket approval last week.

There’s a growing renewal of interest in CDK9 as a therapeutic target, including by two companies adding to the momentum with a $150 million deal. Sellas Life Sciences Group and Genfleet Therapeutics Inc. entered an exclusive license agreement granting Sellas rights to develop and commercialize the small molecule CDK9 inhibitor GFH-009 outside mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

Elix Inc. has teamed up with Shionogi & Co. Ltd. to validate a retrosynthetic analysis model for drug discovery that will employ chemical reaction data from Shionogi to explore various routes to synthesizing new molecules.