Nestlé Health Science has invested $23m in a joint venture it is setting up with French microbiome company Enterome. Microbiome Diagnostics Partners (MDP) will be focused on developing microbiome-based diagnostics for the assessment and management of irritable bowel disorder and liver diseases.

Eight $1bn+ alliances were penned in July. Topping the list was a potential $2.8bn deal under which Alnylam granted Roche exclusive global rights outside the US to develop and commercialize its Phase II hypertension candidate zilebesiran. The companies will co-develop zilebesiran in the US.

During Q2, biopharma merger and acquisition deal value reached $29bn and drew in $36.8bn in potential deal value from alliances. Device company M&A values reached $988m, while in vitro diagnostics and research tools players’ M&A activity totaled $450m.