Ascidian Therapeutics Inc. secured $50 million in series A funding from its founder Apple Tree Partners to take a therapy based on its RNA exon editing technology into a first-in-human trial in ABCA4 retinopathy and to advance additional programs in neuromuscular, neurological, and rare disease indications.

A strong third quarter has pushed biopharma financings ahead of several pre-pandemic years, as follow-on offerings and private placements picked up the pace. IPOs and venture capital rounds dipped below prior quarters, but the overall amount raised so far this year has placed 2022 as the fifth best financing year among the last 10, ahead of both 2019 and 2017.

Aim Vaccine Co. Ltd. priced an IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising HK$70.01 million (US$9 million) to fund work on its late-stage vaccine pipeline. Its shares increased only 3.09% on debut Oct. 6 but closed the week at HK$24.80, up 54% over its listing price of HK$16.16.

Medical Creations Inc., dba Xtremity, raised $8.1 million in a series B3 financing round to develop a transtibial prosthetic socket, the Xtremitytt. The socket is designed to enable rapid fabrication and adjustments by using a carbon-reinforced polymer that can be shaped and reshaped in the clinic rather than require use of outside facilities.

Andera Partners closed its Biodiscovery 6 fund at €456 million (US$442 million). The venture capital firm will maintain its custom of allocating about two-thirds of the fund to biotechnology and one-third to medical devices and medical technology. The fund just edges past its target of €450 million. It is considerably larger than its immediate predecessor, Biodiscovery 5, which raised €345 million.