September 2010

Pfizer buys FoldRx for rare disease division

1 September, 2010

With a new neurodegenerative disease therapy up for regulatory review and a fresh $29 million financing round sitting in the bank, FoldRx announced this morning that Pfizer has moved in to scoop up the Cambridge, MA-based biotech to add to its orphan drug pipeline. Read the Pfizer/FoldRx news in full

August 2010

BTG signs $16.6m deal to sell Nycomed's antivenom drugs

31 August, 2010

BTG plc has announced that it has signed an agreement with Nycomed US Inc. concerning the accelerated transition to BTG on 1 October 2010 of marketing rights to CroFab™ (Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine)), an antivenom, and DigiFab™ (Digoxin Immune Fab (Ovine)), for treating patients with life-threatening digoxin toxicity or overdose. Read the full story at International Business Times

Bayer, Kythera ink $373m dermatology deal

31 August, 2010

Los Angeles-based Kythera Biopharmaceuticals has landed a $373 million licensing deal with Bayer Healthcare's dermatology unit Intendis. The group gets rights to Kythera's lead product candidate, ATX-101, outside the U.S. and Canada. Kythera will receive an upfront payment of $43 million and may be eligible to receive up to $330 million in milestones. Tiered double digit royalties are also part of the deal. Read Kythera's release

J&J CEO likely to weather current woes

30 August, 2010

In the wake of 11 recalls over the past 12 months, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) chief Bill Weldon (photo) has drawn plenty of unsolicited advice from talking heads and the media--including calls for his resignation. But the company is more likely to ask the 61-year-old Weldon to see J&J through its current quagmire than to force him out, sources tell the Wall Street Journal. Read more on the current J&J issues here

Genzyme rejects Sanofi's $18.5bn offer

30 August, 2010

Sanofi-Aventis has finally gone public with its offer for Genzyme. But Genzyme announced its definite rejection of that bid; so the news is not just sources volleying in the media anymore. However, with no rival bidder in sight, it behooves Sanofi to drag out any eventual negotiations, analysts say. Read the latest on Sanofi's offer for Genzyme

Novartis and Nestle close $28.3bn Alcon deal

27 August, 2010

Novartis AG and Nestlé S.A. have announced that they have completed the purchase and sale of approximately 156 million shares of Alcon, Inc. for US$28.3 billion in cash. Read the full details of this $28.3bn deal here

Idera achieves clinical milestone under its collaboration with Merck KGaA

27 August, 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that it has achieved a milestone under its worldwide licensing and collaboration agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Read the full details of the Merck/Idera deal here

Kamada and Baxter enter into strategic agreement

24 August, 2010

Kamada, Ltd. and Baxter International Inc. have announced that they have entered into an exclusive distribution and manufacturing agreement for Kamada’s liquid, ready to use, intravenous Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Product for the treatment of hereditary Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency approved by the USFDA on July 1st, 2010 for marketing under the trade name “Glassia™”. The companies have also entered into a Technology Sharing agreement for the manufacturing of liquid AAT at Baxter facility using Kamada’s proprietary and patented technology. Read the full report at PBR

Aileron scores $1.1bn development pact with Roche

24 August, 2010

Aileron Therapeutics' stapled peptide platform has won over Roche, which is paying $25 million upfront and up to $1.1 billion more in milestones to explore the potential to deliver a new generation of drugs right to their target. Read more on Roche's latest deal

WSJ: Genzyme won't bite on Sanofi's "lackluster" offer

24 August, 2010

A split may be developing on Genzyme's board over a possible sale of the company to Sanofi-Aventis, with CEO Henri Termeer reluctant to dive in while other board members appear more receptive, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. But the Journal's inside sources say that no one likes Sanofi's "lackluster" $69 per share offer. Read more the latest speculative talk on Sanofi/Genzyme buyout deal

Roche buys BioImagine for $100m

23 August, 2010

Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG is buying U.S-based BioImagene for some $100 million, making another bolt-on acquisition to cement its dominant position in tissue-based cancer diagnostics. More on the latest Roche acquisition

Genzyme shareholder sues to stop Sanofi acquisition

20 August, 2010

Even though no formal deal has been made yet, a Genzyme shareholder is launching a preemptive strike to block the biotech's potential acquisition by Sanofi-Aventis, the Boston Globe reports. Read the latest instalment on the Sanofi/Genzyme deal here in the Boston Globe

Can Eli Lilly get its R&D act together?

20 August, 2010

Eli Lilly's recent late-stage pratfall in Alzheimer's set the stage for a blistering Fortune piece dissecting the yawning gap between the Big Pharma's R&D game plan and its woeful track record. Just as some of its biggest competitors are absorbing pipelines stuffed with potential new products, Lilly has avoided any big merger deals. And analysts question whether CEO John Lechleiter has pointed the company down a blind alley. Read the full Lilly R&D story here

Abbott bows out of Flutiform pact

20 August, 2010

Following the FDA's decision in June to require more clinical trials of SkyePharma's asthma drug Flutiform, partner Abbott has returned U.S. marketing rights to the British drugmaker. Under an agreement, there are no material payments due by either party on termination. Read the full report on Abbott and Flutiform

GSK ups stake in Neptunus

19 August, 2010

GlaxoSmithKline will purchase an additional 9% of the vaccine-focused JV it shares with Shenzhen Neptunus Interlong Bio-technique. The price – $10.575 million – represents a 50% increase in valuation over the one established when the JV was formed last year. After the transaction, GSK will own 49% of the entity while Nep Interlong will hold the remaining 51%. Read more on the GSK/Shenzhen Neptunus partnership

Avista Capital Partners and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan agree to acquire INC Research Inc.

19 August, 2010

Avista Capital Partners, a leading private equity firm, and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, through its private investor department, Teachers’ Private Capital, announced today that they have signed an agreement to acquire INC Research, Inc. from an investor group led by Crosspoint® Venture Partners and Adams Street Partners. INC Research is a privately-held, therapeutically focused global contract research organization with deep expertise in managing late stage clinical development programs. INC Research employs 2,000 people in 40 countries worldwide. Read the full story at INC Research

Takeda maps out obesity strategy as it confronts blockbuster loss

19 August, 2010

Faced with the looming loss of patent protection on Actos, the world's top-selling diabetes drug, Japan's Takeda has mapped out a drug development strategy that relies heavily on a new generation of therapies for "lifestyle diseases." And with the ranks of the world's overweight adults projected to grow 75 percent in the next five years, Takeda's top planning honcho tells Bloomberg that he sees plenty of fresh opportunity for new and better therapies that deal with the health consequences of obesity. Read more on Takeda's obesity strategy

COO: Dr. Reddy's is looking for partners in Japan

18 August, 2010

A Dr. Reddy's Laboratories spokesman says the Indian drugmaker is in talks to enter Japan's generics market. "Yes, we are looking at Japan and we are looking for partnerships," Dr Reddy's, Managing Director and COO Satish Reddy told reporters at a conference. According to a report on ET Now television, Dr. Reddy's is in talks with three Japanese drugmakers to buy a stake. Read more on Dr. Reddy's plans to move into Japan

Novartis options Quark program in $680m pact

18 August, 2010

Underscoring the rich potential of new siRNA therapeutics, Novartis has agreed to pay Quark Pharmaceuticals up to $680 million to nail the licensing rights to a new therapy for kidney-related diseases. Read the full details of Novartis' option agreement with Quark - also see this illustrated on our 2010 Partnering Scorecard

Biogen pays $80m to buddy up on phase III ALS program

18 August, 2010

Biogen Idec is buddying up to Knopp Neurosciences with $80 million in cash and up to $245 million more in various milestones for marketing rights to a promising, late-stage ALS drug. Biogen will invest $60 million in the Pittsburgh, PA-based developer while providing another $20 million as an upfront for the company. Read more on the Biogen partnership

Life Technologies inks $725M deal for Ion Torrent

18 August, 2010

Arming itself for a looming showdown with Illumina over the booming market for second-generation gene sequencing technologies, Life Technologies struck a deal to buy Ion Torrent for $375 million in cash and stock with $350 million more on the line based on a series of milestones. Read more on this new deal by Life Technologies here - or see it illustrated on our 2010 M&A Scorecard

Is M&A just the thing to cure Lilly?

17 August, 2010

Eli Lilly needs to make a deal. It's a familiar sentiment, and as the New York Times reports, the deal talk is intensifying--Lilly should sell; Lilly should buy. Read more on this story in the New York Times

Aspen nabs Sigma's drug business for $804m

16 August, 2010

Sigma Pharmaceuticals was playing its cards close to the vest last week when it denied a higher buyout offer from South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare. Aspen might not have hiked its offer for the entire company, but it had pitched a new, higher bid for Sigma's pharma division--and that offer has been accepted. Read the latest on the Aspen/Sigma story

ISCT works with industry to launch cell therapy partnership

16 August, 2010

Biotech firms Roche, Genzyme, Athersys, Miltenyi Biotec, Hospira, Lonza and Life Technologies are joining the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) to launch a series of initiatives to create greater strategic alignment within the industry and drive late stage clinical development. More on the ISCT plans here

Emergent buys Trubion for up to $135m

13 August, 2010

Emergent Biosolutions is buying Trubion Pharmaceuticals for $96.8m up front and up to $38.7m of success-based milestones. Emergent gains Trubion's two clinical-stage product candidates for oncology and autoimmunity. The company also gains Trubion's two platforms - Small Molecular Immunopharmaceutic (SMIPTM) and SCORPIONTM technologies - which could help develop additional drugs. Read more on Emergant's acquisition

Sigma denies sweetened buyout from Aspen

12 August, 2010

Sigma Pharmaceuticals denied Australian media reports that Aspen Pharmacare Holdings had boosted its buyout offer for the company to 65 cents per share, or $689 million; Aspen's formal bid made last month was 55 cents per share. Read the story on Sigma's bid for Aspen

Elan investor questions deal with Azur Pharma

12 August, 2010

Elan is facing questions from activist investor Ib Sonderby about the cut-rate sale price for U.S. rights to the pain drug Prialt, which went to Azur Pharma International for $14.6 million. Apparently, three Elan board members also own stock in Azur Pharma. And Sonderby demands to know just how much. Read the full story on Elan's deal with Azur

Ramius tempts Cypress shareholders with sweetened offer

12 August, 2010

Ramius isn't taking 'no' for an answer after Cypress Bioscience's board opted to reject its buyout offer. In a carefully worded letter, which the hedge fund operator was equally careful to make public, Ramius says that it may even be open to offering more than $4 a share--a figure that Cypress has spurned as grossly inadequate--after it gets a close look at the books and management decides to negotiate a deal. Read more on the Ramius/Cypress story

Shire sells ADHD patch to Noven Pharma

11 August, 2010

Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has entered into a Product and Trademark Acquisition Agreement (the “Agreement”) with affiliates of Shire plc pursuant to which Noven will acquire global rights to Daytrana® from Shire. More on Noven/Shire

PregLem SA announces in-licensing deal with Merck Serono

11 August, 2010

PregLem, the Swiss specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on women’s reproductive medicine, announces a world-wide, exclusive in licensing agreement for Bentamapimod, a novel, orally active, Jun Kinase Inhibitor from Merck Serono for an undisclosed amount. Read the Merck/PregLem story in full

Merck commits up to $289m for new Alzheimer's collaboration

11 August, 2010

Undaunted by its mixed results trying to come up with a new therapy for Alzheimer's, Merck has struck a $289 million deal with Canada's Alectos Therapeutics to collaborate on new molecules for the memory-wasting ailment and other disorders. Read more on Eli Lilly's new collaboration

Teva completes acquisition of Ratiopharm

10 August, 2010

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced today that it has completed the acquisition of ratiopharm, Germany's second largest generics producer. Following the acquisition, Teva will be the number one generic company in Europe, holding the leading market position in ten countries, as well as ranking in the top three in seven additional countries. In addition, the transaction will significantly increase Teva’s sales in Canada. View full details, including our own article on the 2010 M&A Scorecard

Nabi expects $8m milestone payment from GSK

10 August, 2010

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals announced today that it has successfully completed the technology transfer of program know-how associated with the sale of the PentaStaph(TM) vaccine candidate to GSK. Read more on the Nabi/GSK partnership

Sanofi-Aventis establishes research alliance with Scripps Genomic Medicine

10 August, 2010

Sanofi-aventis and Scripps Genomic Medicine, a division of Scripps Health, announced today a strategic alliance to advance research and development initiatives in the field of individualized medicine. Read more on the Sanofi/Scripps alliance

Elan puts off unit sale, plans to cut debt

10 August, 2010

Change of plans at Elan. The company had been mulling a spin-off of its drug-delivery division, but plans are now on hold because Elan thinks market conditions aren't favorable. This is the second time Elan has postponed selling Elan Drug Technologies--it tried to unload the business in 2008, but failed because of the credit crisis. Read more on the Elan story at Reuters

Genzyme CEO has $22m conflict of interest in Sanofi-Aventis buyout

9 August, 2010

To read the financial press, Sanofi-Aventis‘ attempted acquisition of Genzyme is surrounded in mystery: The two sides are far apart on price and investors expect the haggling will take all summer. Will they agree a price or will Sanofi walk away, not willing to overpay? Read more at BNET

Sanofi offer a nail-biter for Ganzyme employees

6 August, 2010

The potential marriage of Sanofi-Aventis and Genzyme has gossips a-talking. While analysts debate about prices in the press, employees are whispering amongst themselves, some worried that a buyout could cost them their jobs. Read the latest on Sanofi and Genzyme at The Economist

GSK licenses Vectura's inhilation tech for $32m

6 August, 2010

GlaxoSmithKline is paying UK-based Vectura group $31.8 million dollars to license Vectura's dry powder drug formulation patents in relation to two late stage development compounds in GSK's respiratory drug pipeline. Read the Vectura release

GenVec, Novartis ink clinical trials supply deal

6 August, 2010

GenVec could receive approximately $13 million over four years after inking an agreement with Novartis through which it will manufacture clinical trial material for up to two lead candidates. The two companies are partnered on clinical programs for hearing loss and balance disorders. Read the Genvec news at Reuters

inVentiv Health announces completion of acquisition by Thomas H. Lee Partners

4 August, 2010

inVentiv Health, Inc., a leading provider of end-to-end clinical development, launch and commercialization services to the global pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, today announced the completion of the transaction providing for the acquisition of inVentiv Health, Inc. by inVentiv Group Holdings, Inc. (formerly Papillon Holdings, Inc.), an entity created and funded by certain affiliates of Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., Liberty Lane Partners, LLP ("Liberty Lane"), certain co-investors and members of the inVentiv management team. See this illustrated on our 2010 M&A Scorecard

GSK and Amplimmune form global strategic alliance

4 August, 2010

Under the terms of this agreement, GSK will pay Amplimmune a non-refundable upfront payment of $23 million. Amplimmune is eligible to receive up to $485 million in regulatory, development and sales milestone payments including milestones associated with IND filing and conducting a Phase 1 trial of AMP-224. Amplimmune may also receive up to double digit royalties on global sales. Read more on GSK and Amplimmune's collaboration

Evotec receives a milestone payment as part of its discovery alliance with Boehringer

4 August, 2010

Evotec AG has announced that its research alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim has reached a milestone, triggering a payment of EUR 2.5 million to Evotec. The milestone reached was the selection of a candidate compound for pre-development studies in an inflammation and immunology programme. Read more on the Evotec/Boehringer partnership

Cypress Bio slashes staff and dumps co-promo deal

4 August, 2010

Cypress Bioscience is opting out of its right to co-promote the fibromyalgia drug Savella with Forest Laboratories and has decided to either shutter or sell its personalized meds business by the end of September. Read the Cypress release

Allergan CEO says company isn't for sale

3 August, 2010

Allergan Inc.'s chief executive, in response to speculation that a large pharmaceutical company could purchase the maker of Botox, has reiterated that the company isn't for sale and that it would be hard for a potential buyer to justify a deal. Read more from Allergan's CEO at WSJ

Report: Dr. Reddy's looks to partner in Japan

3 August, 2010

India's Dr Reddy's Laboratories is seeking partners in Japan, the second largest pharma market in the world, the Financial Express is reporting. Read the full report in the Financial Express

Shire forges $565m buyout deal for Movetis

3 August, 2010

Seeing a nice fit in the GI arena of specialty pharma and an open door to a bigger European presence, Shire has agreed to pay $565 million for Movetis, a Belgian biotech which has one product on the market. Movetis's board has already agreed to Shire's offer of €19 per share, a 74 percent premium over yesterday's close. Read the Shire release here

Seattle Genetics scores $900m cancer pact with Genentech

3 August, 2010*

Genentech has anted up $12 million to expand its development pact for Seattle Genetics' antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology. And the Seattle biotech will now be able to play for a pot of cash that could swell to $900 million in fees and milestones. Read more on Genentech's latest partnership

Merck predicts $300m hit in Euro sales

2 August, 2010*

Merck has joined the troop of drugmakers expecting a big sales hit in Europe during the second half of this year. A $300 million hit, to be exact. Read more on Merck's Euro sales expectations

Wall Street handicaps Sanofi's looming Genzyme bid

2 August, 2010

Let the bidding begin. Wall Street analysts have been engaged in some intense speculation on Sanofi's widely expected bid for Genzyme, with a basic agreement that the pharma company will get started at $68 to $70 a share while targeting a handshake over a mid-70s price. Read the latest on the looming Sanofi bid for Genzyme

July 2010

Australian watchdog clears Novartis bid for Alcon

30 July, 2010

Australia's competition watchdog cleared Novartis AG's planned buyout of Alcon Laboratories, after Novartis agreed to sell one of Alcon's products to eye care company Bausch & Lomb in Australia.

Actient Pharma inks deal with UCB

30 July, 2010

GTCR, one of the country’s leading private equity firms, has announced that Actient Pharmaceuticals, LLC has successfully completed a transaction to license and acquire six pharmaceutical products from UCB, Inc., a subsidiary of UCB SA, an international biopharmaceutical company based in Brussels, Belgium. More on the UCB/Actient deal

Big Pharma's Q2 earnings report

30 July, 2010

Compiled earnings reports from the top 10 companies in pharma, as ranked by 2009 revenues. Each profile includes earnings summaries, quick factoids on the numbers, and links to company news. Read the big pharma Q2 earnings report in full

Charles River, WuXi call off $1.6bn deal

30 July, 2010

Shareholder opposition has forced Charles River to call off its $1.6 billion plan to purchase China's WuXi PharmaTech. Despite CEO James Foster's assurances that the deal would bring up to $100 million in potential operational savings, several investors were never able to overcome their concerns that the deal wasn't in the company's best interests. Read more on the Charles River call-off

Isis earns $5m milestone from GSK

29 July, 2010

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that it has earned a $5 million milestone payment from GlaxoSmithKline related to the designation as a development candidate of a drug to treat an undisclosed rare and serious disease. Isis will develop the drug to Phase 2 proof-of-concept, at which time GSK has the option to license it. Read more at Earth Times

GSK exercises option on Anacor's novel antibiotic

29 July, 2010

Anacor Pharmaceuticals and GlaxoSmithKline announced that GSK has exercised its option to obtain an exclusive licence to develop and commercialise GSK2251052, formerly known as AN3365. GSK ‘052 is a novel, systemic antibiotic derived from Anacor’s boron chemistry platform. Read more on the GSK payment to Anacor at Bloomberg

Icagen and Pfizer pain collaboration reaches first in man milestones

29 July, 2010

Icagen, Inc. has provided an update on its sodium channel program for pain and related disorders, which is being conducted in collaboration with Pfizer. Pfizer and Icagen have initiated a clinical study in healthy volunteers of several collaboration compounds in order to assist in the selection of compounds for further clinical development. Read story in full at Icagen

Sanofi-Aventis readies $18.7bn bid for Genzyme

29 July, 2010

Genzyme is in play. After days of fevered speculation over what Genzyme would be worth to a company like Sanofi-Aventis, the big pharma outfit appears to have set its sights on the low side of the spectrum. According to a flurry of news reports, Sanofi CEO Chris Viehbacher and the board think that $70 a share--that's $18.7 billion total--would be a fair price to pay. But any bidding could start under that level. More on the latest Genzyme bid...

Medidata Solutions extends enterprise contract with Lundbeck

28 July, 2010

Medidata Solutions, Inc. has announced that Lundbeck has extended its agreement to use the Medidata Rave electronic data capture and clinical data management platform for another multi-year period, building on the success of the relationship in the initial three year contract. More on the Lundbeck/Medidata partnership

Regeneron inks $295m antibody discovery deal with Astellas

28 July, 2010

Regeneron's growing antibody expertise is paying off with a rich, newly renegotiated discovery deal with Japan's Astellas. The pharma company has decided to scrap its three-year-old collaboration--under which it paid Tarrytown, NY-based Regeneron $20 million a year to find promising new drug candidates--and agreed to hand over $165 million up front with a potential $130 million check due eight years from now. More on the Astellas/Regeneron deal

Top 5 biotech VC deals H1 2010

28 July, 2010

The first half of 2010 has drawn to a close, so it's time to look back on the biggest biotech venture capital deals so far this year. At the halfway point the leader is Archimedes Pharma, and England-based developer that has raised $100 million to support the planned roll-out of PecFent, a fentanyl nasal spray designed to treat breakthrough cancer pain. Overall, the biotech industry has raised....... More on the top 5 biotech VC deals here

Sinopharm and Merck sign statement of mutual intent to boost China presence

27 July, 2010

Merck, known outside the U.S. and Canada as MSD, and Sinopharm (China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation) today announced the signing of a statement of mutual intent. Under the statement, Sinopharm and Merck will cooperate on HPV vaccine and other mutually-selected vaccine products in China, and will also discuss the potential for promoting and marketing Merck’s pharmaceutical products in China. More on the Merck/Sinopharm agreement

Strong Q2 prompts new call for higher Alcon bid

27 July, 2010

Alcon's independent directors must be grinning, now that the company has posted street-beating second-quarter earnings. Not only did the eye care company report a 15 percent jump in Q2 profits, but also hiked its outlook for the full year. That's giving ammunition to the directors fighting for a higher buyout bid from Novartis. Read more on the Alcon bid story

Eisai builds defenses against generic Aricept

26 July, 2010

The FDA just gave Eisai a new weapon against generic competition for the company's flagship Alzheimer's therapy Aricept by approving a higher-dose form of the drug. And Eisai hopes the new version will keep generic copies from deeply slashing sales of its profitable drug. More on the Aricept story

Sanofi makes $15.4m gender bias deal with reps

23 July, 2010

Sanofi-Aventis sales reps have won a settlement in their gender bias case against the company, but it's a small fraction of the big Novartis deal announced last week. One-tenth of the size, to be exact. Lawyers for the 5,200 current and former Sanofi reps asked a judge to approve a $15.36 million settlement; Novartis agreed to pay $152.5 million to 5,600 female reps. Read more on the Sanofi gender deal here

Forest settles Namenda patent fight with licenses

23 July, 2010

Forest Laboratories and Merck KGaA said Thursday they have settled a patent lawsuit with companies they sued over the Alzheimer's drug Namenda, granting 10 generics makers licenses to produce the drug in 2015. Read more on the Forest patent fight

Lilly pushes deeper into men's health

23 July, 2010

In an effort to become a leader in men's health, Cialis maker Eli Lilly is reporting progress in the battle to help men fight erectile dysfunction. For example, this week the drugmaker had advanced an experimental drug for treating enlarged prostate from early-stage to middle-stage clinical trials. Read more on the latest Lilly news in the men's health arena

Sanofi approaches Genzyme with buyout deal

23 July, 2010

Sanofi-Aventis has approached Genzyme regarding a potential buyout deal, causing the beleaguered biotech's stock to surge Friday afternoon. Citing people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reports the two sides are in the early stages of assessing each other's interest in the deal, including the appropriate price for Genzyme. The rare disease company has a market cap of $13 billion. Read more on the Sanofi's interest in Genzyme

Lilly beats Street as Elan posts bigger loss

22 July, 2010

It's earnings time again, and a whole slew of drugmakers are reporting their second-quarter results. Eli Lilly beat forecasts while Elan posted a bigger net loss; Roche profits grew 58 percent on lower restructuring costs as Genzyme barely managed to stay in the black. Here are more details on a sampling of the numbers. Read the various earnings reports here

Actavis inks key refinancing deal

22 July, 2010

Icelandic generic drugmaker Actavis has agreed to a debt refinancing deal with its lenders to slash its multibillion-euro debt load. Read the Actavis report at Reuters

Reckitt Benckiser agrees to buy condom firm SSL for $3.9bn

21 July, 2010

Consumer goods group Reckitt Benckiser agreed to buy Durex condoms and Scholl sandals maker SSL for 2.54 billion pounds ($3.9 billion) to increase its presence in health and personal care. Read this Reckitt/SSL story in full at Bloomberg

Eisai to cut Aricept costs with move to India

21 July, 2010

What's a drugmaker to do when its lead product falls off the patent cliff? If you're Eisai, you move manufacturing to India. The company plans to shift production of its Alzheimer's drug Aricept to the subcontinent in the first such move by a Japanese pharma company, Reuters reports. Read the full Reuters report on Eisai

Merck buys vax unit from bankrupt Hawaii Biotech

21 July, 2010

Merck (NYSE: MRK) has agreed to purchase bankrupt Hawaii Biotech's dengue fever vaccine unit for an undisclosed sum. It's a critical move for Hawaii, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year and will deplete a $2 million credit line by the end of this month. Read the report at the Star Advertiser

Roche and Exiqon agree on joint marketing approach

20 July, 2010

Roche and Exiqon join marketing forces for Roche Applied Science´s RealTime ready assays and Exiqon`s miRCURY LNA™ Universal RT microRNA qPCR system. As indicated by respective links on their websites, each system will complement the cooperator ´s product portfolio. Read more on Roche/Exiqon

With Aspen circling, Sigma gets piecemeal bids

19 July, 2010

Australia's Sigma Pharmaceuticals has received three bids for its Herron drugs arm and three bids for its Orphan Australia drugs business, as it seeks an improved bid for the entire company from South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare. Read the latest update on Sigma and Aspen

Biotech takes top spot in Q2 VC investment

16 July, 2010

The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) has released second quarter investment numbers, and once again the life sciences sector (biotechnology and medical device industries combined) leads the pack. Read this release from the NVCA in full

Galapagos inks drug discovery pact

16 July, 2010

Galapagos has inked a two-year, €3.3 million drug discovery deal with the University of Bristol in England. The partners will aim at developing treatments for diabetic neuropathic pain. Galapagos' service division BioFocus will provide hit-to-lead and lead optimization services for a Wellcome Trust funded program at the University of Bristol. More on the latest Galapagos deal

Mylan Inc. to buy Bioniche Pharma USA LLC for $550m

15 July, 2010

Generic drugmaker Mylan Inc said it plans to acquire privately held Bioniche Pharma Holdings Limited for $550 million in cash, to get an access to the North American injectables market. More on Mylan's acquisition plans

Merck KGaA completes acquisition of Millipore and launches new EMD Millipore division

15 July, 2010

Merck KGaA*, a global pharmaceutical and chemical company, today announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Millipore Corporation, a leading Life Science company based in Billerica, Massachusetts, USA, for an aggregate purchase price including debt and cash of approximately $7.0 billion. Merck agreed to acquire Millipore on February 28, 2010 for $107 in cash per share of Millipore common stock. Read the latest on Merck and Millipore

Amorfix licenses ALS antibodies to Biogen Idec

15 July, 2010

Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd. has announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement granting Biogen Idec exclusive worldwide rights to Amorfix's lead amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) monoclonal antibodies. The antibodies have shown efficacy in animal models of ALS and Biogen Idec will now, at its expense, complete the development and prepare for clinical trials. more on the Amorfix/Biogen Idec partnership

Pfizer and Samsung Medical Medical Center collaborate on liver cancer

14 July, 2010

Samsung Medical Center and Pfizer Inc. announced that they have formed a research partnership to jointly analyze tumors from Korean patients to generate gene expression profiles and that may ultimately direct therapies and enhance clinical outcomes in the patients with liver cancer. More on the Pfizer/Samsung partnership

Silence and AstraZeneca extend siRNA development collaboration

14 July, 2010

Silence Therapeutics plc is pleased to announce a one-year extension of its ongoing research and development collaboration with AstraZeneca. Under the terms of the agreement, which has progressed well since being signed in July 2007, Silence and AstraZeneca are jointly collaborating in the identification and optimization of five novel siRNA therapeutic molecules addressing respiratory and oncology indications. More on the Silence/AstraZeneca story

Lilly reps tout blood test to boost Effient

14 July, 2010

The clotbuster Effient is one of Eli Lilly's great new hopes, but the drug's early sales haven't exactly been overwhelming. As the New York Times points out, the first three quarters' worth of sales totaled just $35 million. In short, Lilly has found that it's not easy to compete against Plavix, one of the world's major blockbusters. More on the Effient story

The Street tracks the top 10 clinical trials to watch

14 July, 2010

TheStreet's top biotech stock ace, Adam Feuerstein, has culled through a mountain of releases and reports to come up with the 10 most closely-watched trial announcements expected in the second half of the year. Click here to read the article from *TheStreet*

Lilly plans cuts in manufacturing, quality control

13 July, 2010

Eli Lilly plans to cut 170 manufacturing and quality-control jobs this year, most of them in Indianapolis, as part of its ongoing downsizing efforts. More on Lilly's downsizing

Eli Lilly gets big on late stage Alzheimer's drugs

13 July, 2010

Alzheimer's has long been one of the most difficult and confusing targets in drug development. But lured by the prospect of mega-blockbuster revenue for any new drug that alleviates key symptoms of the memory-wasting disease, Eli Lilly has wagered heavily on two late-stage programs, with more therapies being tested further down the pipeline. Read more on the Lilly news at Bloomberg

Accumetrics, Daiichi Sankyo and Eli Lilly launch strategic U.S. collaboration

12 July, 2010

Accumetrics, Inc., Daiichi Sankyo, Inc, and Eli Lilly and Company announced today that the companies have entered into a strategic collaboration in the United States to raise awareness about antiplatelet therapy and the role of platelet function testing.

Several factors, including a patient's genetic make-up, diabetic status, age, weight and the use of certain other medications metabolized through the cytochrome P450 pathway in the body may influence patient response to antiplatelet medicines. Therefore, it is important that physicians understand their options to determine if their use of a specific antiplatelet medicine is having its intended effect. Read the full story on the new collaboration here

Immunovaccine licenses clinical stage cancer vaccine from Merck KGaA

12 July, 2010

Immunovaccine Inc. has announced that it has signed an agreement with Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, to in-license EMD 640744, an investigational therapeutic survivin-based cancer vaccine designed to target multiple solid tumors and hematological malignancies. More on the new Merck cancer vaccine partnership

Novartis obtains licenses to develop and commercialise two novel nanobodies

12 July, 2010*

Ablynx has announced that Novartis has obtained licenses to further develop and commercialise Nanobodies against two complex targets. This has triggered a total of EUR1 million in upfront fees and license payments to Ablynx. More on the Novartis/Ablynx deal

Investors look to Q2 results for E.U. impact

12 July, 2010

With European governments cutting prices left and right, investors are worried. Just how worried they are--and should be--will grow clearer over the next few weeks as Big Pharma starts reporting Q2 results. More on the European government price cutting analysis

Doc-payment info hits J&J unit websites

9 July, 2010

Johnson & Johnson has started posting information on its payments to doctors, joining the Big Pharma movement toward disclosure. But J&J's reports aren't as forthcoming as those from rivals such as Merck and Pfizer. They identify individual doctors and payments made, but they don't total up dollar amounts or say how many physicians received payments. More on the latest J&J payments news

Crucell N.V. reaches agreement with Sanofi Pasteur on programs in the field of paediatric and respiratory vaccines

8 July, 2010

Dutch biopharmaceutical company Crucell N.V, today announced that Crucell and sanofi pasteur reached an agreement on a series of transactions to restructure their long standing partnership.

Crucell will waive its right to terminate an existing license agreement between Crucell Switzerland and sanofi pasteur's subsidiary Shantha Biotechnics Limited (Shantha) for the development of paediatric vaccines, based on Haemophilus influenzae b. This termination right was triggered by the acquisition of Shantha by sanofi pasteur in July 2009. More on the Crucell/sanofi pasteur partnership

Genzyme and Hospira sign new drug manufacturing deal

8 July, 2010

Genzyme Corp, which is attempting to fix quality-control problems involving its top medicines, will have Hospira Inc fill and package the drugs under a new supply agreement between the two companies, Genzyme said in a regulatory filing. More on the Genzyme/Hospira partnership

Pfizer cops chase criminals in fake drug trade

8 July, 2010

When your Viagra revenue is at stake, you'll do what it takes. To fight rampant counterfeiting of prescription drugs--including the oft-copied erectile dysfunction remedy - Pfizer fields its own crime-fighting force. Ex-U.S. customs officials, former FBI agents, Turkish narcotics experts and erstwhile Hong Kong police included. More on the fake Viagra report

Alcon IDC earmarks $50m for possible Novartis suit

8 July, 2010

Alcon's independent directors are upping the ante in their squabble with Novartis. The directors committee (IDC) has now set up a $50 million litigation trust to make sure that minority shareholders get a good deal in selling their shares to the Swiss drugmaker, Reuters reports. More on the Alcon/Novartis story

J&J suffers 65% drop in pain-reliever sales

8 July, 2010

There have been a lot of predictions about Johnson & Johnson's suffering reputation in the wake of highly public consumer-drug recalls. But Advertising Age has some numbers. J&J's business in internal analgesics--including Tylenol and Motrin products, which accounted for several of those recalls--has dropped by nearly two-thirds year-over-year. More on the J&J pain-reliever report

Merck to shutter eight R&D facilities in global restructuring

8 July, 2010

Driven by a need to cut back after swallowing Schering-Plough while relying more on external development collaborations, Merck today spelled out long-awaited plans to shutter eight R&D centers around the globe, including facilities in Cambridge, MA and Montreal. More on the Merck restructure

Teva dissolves unit in management restructuring

7 July, 2010

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has outgrown its simplistic corporate structure, so it's creating a new one. Rather than operating through just two geographical divisions--the U.S. and everyplace else, i.e. Teva International Group--the company will now field four regional units to cover the globe... More on the Teva restructure

Aspen drops Sigma bid by 8 percent

7 July, 2010

As analysts predicted, Aspen Pharmacare cut its buyout offer for Sigma Pharmaceuticals--to $552 million, an 8 percent drop--raising questions about whether a deal might actually happen... Read the latest on the Aspen bid

Roche files BLA for breakthrough T-DM1 cancer therapy

7 July, 2010

Wowed by stellar mid-stage data, Roche has filed a BLA for trastuzumab-DM1, or T-DM1, seeking approval to market the pioneering conjugated monoclonal antibody to women with treatment-resistant HER2 positive breast cancer. For Roche, T-DM1 represents a potential mega-blockbuster capable of eventually rivaling Herceptin in the market for cancer drugs. And the filing marks a major milestone for the investigators at Genentech and Immunogen who successfully combined a monoclonal antibody with a toxic chemotherapy to single out cancer cells for termination--sparing healthy cells. Read more on the Roche T-DM1 story

Aspen likely to cut $596M offer for Sigma

6 July, 2010

Now that Aspen Pharmacare has had a look at Sigma Pharmaceuticals' books, it's not as enamored with the Australian drugmaker. Sources tell Bloomberg that Aspen now plans to reduce its A$707 million ($596 million) offer for Sigma. But there's no offer on the table at all yet, Sigma says. And Aspen's not quite finished with its look-see at the accounts, either. More on the latest Aspen/Sigma story

Nycomed wins EU approval for COPD therapy

6 July, 2010

Despite being rebuffed by the FDA and its drug experts, Switzerland's Nycomed has won EU approval for Daxas, its new therapy to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. The approval will usher in the first new drug for smoker's lung in more than a decade. Read more on the Nycomed story at Reuters

South Africa's Aspen seeks more time to review Sigma

5 July, 2010

Australian drug maker Sigma Pharmaceuticals (SIP.AX) said on Tuesday its suitor, South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare (APNJ.J), had not made a formal offer for the firm but wanted to continue due diligence.

On May 21, Aspen bid A$707 million ($590 million) for debt-laden Sigma and was granted an exclusivity period until July 5. The offer was well below Sigma's debts at end-January of A$785 million... Read more on the Sigma buyout

X-Chem and Roche enter into drug discovery collaboration and license agreement

2 July, 2010

X-Chem, Inc. has announced the signing of a multi-year collaborative agreement with Roche to apply X-Chem's proprietary platform to the rapid discovery of drug candidates against several of Roche's high-value therapeutic targets. As part of the agreement, Roche will provide X-Chem with upfront and research payments, success based discovery milestones and technology access fees. More on the Roche/X-Chem partnership

Roche and IBM collaborate to develop nanopore-based DNA sequencing technology

2 July, 2010

Roche and IBM have announced an agreement to develop a nanopore-based technology that will directly read and sequence human DNA quickly and efficiently. More on the Roche/IBM partnership

Lilly buys Alnara for undisclosed sum

2 July, 2010

Alnara Pharmaceuticals has inked a deal to merge with Eli Lilly for an undisclosed sum. The Cambridge, MA-based developer's lead product is liprotamase, a therapy under FDA review for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency... Read more on the latest Lilly buyout

Arena lands $1.3bn weight drug pact with Eisai

1 July, 2010

With an FDA panel review looming in the fall, Arena Pharmaceuticals has finally hammered out a U.S. licensing pact for its weight drug lorcaserin with Japan's Eisai, and the big payoff is slated to arrive after a potential approval. Arena's stock price (ARNA) surged 20 percent on the news this morning, giving investors a chance to register their satisfaction with the numbers, which arrive late in the development game. More on the Eisai/Arena licensing deal

Novartis study tries to temper regulatory onslaught in Europe

1 July, 2010

As European countries line up with ever-stricter rules designed to reduce the price they pay for pharmaceuticals, Novartis has commissioned a new report from a group of tech experts that draws a straight line between the strictness of the new regs and a reduction in R&D innovation. Read more on the drug pricing story at Reuters

Genmab grabs $134m as it restructures blockbuster GSK pact

1 July, 2010

Just weeks after Lisa Drakeman departed the CEO's post at Genmab, GlaxoSmithKline has engineered a big change to the $2.1 billion deal it struck with the Danish developer more than three years ago on Arzerra. The troubled Genmab, which has watched its share price slide 90 percent, is getting $134 million upfront on the revised pact, but sees its milestone package cut in half. Read more on the Genmab/GSK restructure

June 2010

Futura Medical signs development agreement with GSK for TPR100

30 June, 2010

Futura Medical plc, the pharmaceutical group that develops innovative products for consumer healthcare, has announced it has signed a development agreement with GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare for the development of TPR100, the company's novel, topically applied product for pain relief. more on the GSK/Futura development agreement

OctoPlus strikes delivery tech development pact with Novartis

30 June, 2010

Dutch biotech OctoPlus has struck a deal to use its controlled release technology to formulate a new compound for Novartis. The pact will put OctoPlus' drug delivery technology PolyActive to work on an undisclosed therapy, with the biotech company in charge up to in vivo feasibility. More on the Novartis and OctoPlus partnership

Celgene to acquire Abraxis Bioscience in $2.9bn deal

30 June, 2010

Celgene Corp., the maker of blood cancer drugs, agreed to buy Abraxis BioScience Inc. for $2.9 billion in cash and stock to acquire a solid-tumor medicine. The acquisition values Los Angeles-based Abraxis at $71.93 per share, 17 percent more than the previous day's closing price on the Nasdaq Stock Market. More on the Celgene/Abraxis acquisition

Sanofi to acquire TargeGen, Inc.

30 June, 2010

Sanofi-aventis announced that it has signed an agreement for the acquisition of TargeGen Inc., a privately held US biopharmaceutical company developing small molecule kinase inhibitors for the treatment of certain forms of leukemia, lymphoma and other haematological malignancies and blood disorders. More on the Sanofi/TargeGen acquisition

caprotec announces the successful completion of a collaborative research project with Roche

29 June, 2010

caprotec bioanalytics GmbH has announced that it has successfully completed a research collaboration with F.Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland. Under the collaboration research agreement, caprotec used its propietary CCMS technology to analyse the binding characteristics and interaction of one undisclosed candidate with its human target proteins. More on the Roche/caprotec collaboration

Vitae receives $14m milestone payment as Boehringer advances lead compound into phase I clinical trials

29 June, 2010

Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that it has earned a $14 million clinical milestone payment from Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. More on Boehringer/Vitae milestone payment

Marinomed signs collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation

28 June, 2010

Marinomed Biotechnologie GmbH, a company focussed on the development of innovative therapies for respiratory diseases, announced today that it has signed a licensing agreement with the international pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. More on the Boehringer/Marinomed news story

Marcadia Biotech and Eli Lilly sign development, license agreement for novel glucagon program

28 June, 2010

Marcadia Biotech, Inc. and Eli Lilly & Co. have announced that the companies have signed a development and exclusive license agreement for Marcadia's short-acting glucagon program, covering glucagon analogues that may provide greater convenience and ease of use than the current recombinant glucagon for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia. More on the Marcadia/Lilly agreement

Merck to fight $8m Fosamax verdict

28 June, 2010

Merck has lost its first Fosamax jury trial. A New York jury awarded $8 million in damages to plaintiff Shirley Boles, who claimed her osteonecrosis of the jaw was caused by the bone-building drug. That's $3 million more than the suit had requested - which offers a hint at what Merck might do next... more on the Fosamax story

Novartis faces new obstacle in Alcon deal

28 June, 2010

Novartis may come to regret its lower-than-expected offer to Alcon's minority shareholders. A legal expert hired by the board's independent director committee has decreed that the group has to back Novartis' offer for the buyout to go through - and the committee is still saying that the offer is too low. More on the Novartis/Alcon report

AstraZeneca spurs South African operations

28 June, 2010

AstraZeneca won't be left behind in South Africa, says CEO David Brennan who tells Bloomberg that his company is boosting its presence in that country. More on the interview with David Brennan

Gilead to buy CGI Pharm for $120m

25 June, 2010

Gilead Sciences will pay up to $120 million to purchase Branford, CT-based CGI Pharmaceuticals, a private developer focussed on small olecule chemistry in kinase biology. Read more on the Gilead/CGI acquisition

Sanofi inks $375m deal with Metabolex for diabetes target

25 June, 2010

Hayward, CA-based Metabolex is on a roll, inking its second deal this week. The developer has secured an undisclosed upfront payment and up to $375 million from Sanofi-Aventis for rights to an experimental diabetes treatment. Read the Sanofi/Metabolex story in full

Merck beefs up in South Africa with Adcock deal

24 June, 2010

Merck is taking another step in its campaign for emerging-markets revenue. The company has teamed up with South African drugmaker Adcock Ingram in a marketing and distribution deal, hoping to expand its footprint in that country. The two companies will work together to sell some OTC products as well as prescription meds for asthma, high blood pressure, migraines, cholesterol and osteoporosis. See the Merck/Adcock article at Reuters

Mexico slaps Lilly, Baxter with price fixing fines

24 June, 2010

Six pharmaceutical companies were fined more than 150 million pesos ($11.6 million) for conspiring to raise the price of medicine they sold to a social-services agency, said Mexico's anti-monopoly commission, the CFC. Read more on the price fixing article

GSK enters agreement with Medivir for exclusive rights to cold sore treatment Xerclear

23 June, 2010

GlaxoSmithKline and Medivir today announced an exclusive agreement for the commercialisation of cold sore treatment of Xerclear(TM)for non-prescription use (OTC) in key global markets. More on the GSK/Medivir partnership

Lilly and Walmart team up to provide human insulin to people with diabetes

23 June, 2010

Walmart and Eli Lilly and Co. have announced they're teaming up to provide an affordable insulin option for people with diabetes. Beginning in mid-September, Lilly's Humulin brand of insulin will be available in Walmart pharmacies across the U.S. under the dual-branded name Humulin ReliOn. Read more on the Lilly/Walmart partnership

Affymax receives $30m milestone payments from Takeda for database lock of phase III clinical trials

22 June, 2010

Affymax, Inc. has announced that it has received $30 million in development milestone payments from Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. as part of the companies' exclusive agreement to develop and commercialise their investigational drug for the treatment of anaemia in chronic renal failure patients. Read more on the Takeda/Affymax story

Regulus pairs up with Sanofi in $750m microRNA pact

22 June, 2010

Regulus Pharmaceuticals is partnering up with Sanofi-Aventis in a $750 million nicroRNA discovery and development deal, garnering $25 million of that upfront with the promise of a $10 million equity payment. Launched with the backing of Alnylam and Isis, Regulus also obtained an option on a broader R&D alliance that would be worth $50 million. Read the Regulus/Sanofi story

Ortho-McNeil inks twin diabetes pacts totalling $625m

22 June, 2010

Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals has nailed down commercialisation rights to Diamyd Medical's late-stage Type 1 diabetes vaccine. OMJ and Sweden's Diamyd will share development costs on the therapy, now in a late-stage trial, with the pharma company paying $45 million upfront and promising up to $580 million in milestones for the development deal. More on the OMJ deal

AstraZeneca settles drug-pricing suit for $103m

21 June, 2010

Astra Zeneca says it will pay $103 million to settle a class-action suit in the U.S. over its pricing for wholesale drugs, even though it believes its pricing and marketing practices were lawful. More on the AZ drug-pricing suit

Biovail, Valeant hatch $3.3bn reverse merger

21 June, 2010

The Biovail name will soon be no more if a reverse merger with Valeant Pharmaceuticals goes through as planned. And not only would the cash-and-stock deal yield a company clubbed Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, but a Valeant executive would take the reins, relegating Biovail CEO William Wells to a post as non-executive chairman. More on the Biovail/Valeant reverse merger

BMS writes off Exelixis' lead cancer drug

21 June, 2010

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Exelixis are breaking up their partnership on the late-stage cancer drug XL184. BMS is handing over all its rights to the drug along with $17 million in the breakup, which comes on top of $240 million BMS has already paid for XL184 and a second cancer program. Read more on the BMS/Exelixis breakup

Phase III osteoarthritis pain trial is a winner for Pfizer

18 June, 2010

Pfizer ran the table in a late-stage study of tanezumab, a protein inhibitor that the pharma giant is touting as a leading contender to go on to become the world's first approved biologic for pain. Read more on this Pfizer news release

Evotec earns milestone in oncology program as part of its research alliance with Boehringer

17 June, 2010

Evotec has announced that it has achieved a milestone as part of its research alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation and will receive a payment of €2.5 million. The milestone was achieved for the selection of a candidate compound for pre-development studies in an oncology program. Read about the Evotec/Boehringer partnership

Neurocrine and Boehringer to develop diabetes drug; Neurocrine to get $10m upfront; up to $225m in milestone payments

17 June, 2010

Neurocrine Biosciences, INc. has announced thatthey have established a worldwide collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim to research and develop small molecule GPR119 agonists for the treatment of Type II diabetes and other indications. Read more on the Neurocrine/Boehringer partnership

Pfizer venture arm joins $25m round for Aquinox

17 June, 2010

Pfizer Venture Investments has joined a group of venture groups to provide a $25 million Series B round for Aquinox Pharmaceuticals, a Canadian start-up working on anti-inflammatories. Ventures West Capital led the round for the biotech, with Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, Baker Brothers Investments and BC Advantage Funds joining in. Read more on the Aquinox finance round

OncoMed scores big cancer development pact with Bayer

17 June, 2010

Germany's Bayer Schering is paying OncoMed $40 million upfront to partner on a slate of new drugs that target cancer stem cells. The German pharma company is reserving an option to buy up to five programs through Phase I, with OncoMed in line to receive up to $387.5 million for each new biologic and $112 million for each new small molecule drug that works its way to an approval. Read the Bayer/OncoMed story here

On a roll, Neurocrine nails $575m licensing deal with Abbott

16 June, 2010

Hot on the heels of a promising package of top-line results from the Phase II trial of their endometriosis therapy, Neurocrine Biosciences has wrapped a $575 million licensing deal for the therapy with Abbott Laboratories. More on the Abbott/Neurocrine partnership here

Teva and Clal to invest $17.5m in diabetes treatment developer

14 June, 2010

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has exercised an option to raise its stake in Andromeda Biotech, which is developing a treatment for juvenile Type I diabetes, Clal Biotechnology said on Monday. Read the Teva/Clal update at Reuters

BMS signs agreement with Icon an Paraxel to support greater efficiencies in clinical development

14 June, 2010

BMS has announced that it has signed agreements with Icon and Parexel, two leading providers of clinical development services to the biopharmaceutical industry for joint strategic, operational and capability support of the company's clinical development program. Read the BMS story here on the BMS website

Furiex Pharmaceuticals confirms Takeda receives pricing approval of NESIN in Japan; to trigger $7.5m payment

11 June, 2010

Furiex Pharmaceuticals Inc. has confirmed that Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. has receied pricing approval for NESIN an Japan. Under the agreement with Takeda, upon receipt of both regulatory and pricing approvals, Furiex is entitled to receive a $7.5m milestone payment from Takeda. Read the Furiex/Takeda report here

BMS & Pfizer halt anti-clotting drug on signal of benefit

11 June, 2010

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Pfizer Inc. said last week that they stopped a clinical trial early because the data so far suggests an experimental drug for irregular heart rhythm was superior to aspirin. Read the BMS release here

UCB strengthens strategic alliance with Wilex

14 June, 2010

UCB has increased its shareholding in Wilex AG (Munich, Germany) a company specialising in the development of drugs and diagnostic agents for cancer, to approximately 18%. Read the UCB report here

GSK buys Argentina's Phoenix for $253 million

10 June, 2010

GlaxoSmithKline has moved to expand its business in Latin America and bought Argentina's Laboratorios Phoenix. Read more on GSK/Phoenix acquisition here

BASF to buy German additives maker Cognis for €3 million next week

10 June, 2010

Chemical industry leader BASF has in principle agreed to acquire German additives maker Cognis and the deal could be announced as early as next wee, several people familiar with the talks said. Read BASF/Cognis report at Reuters

Helsinn and Eisai extend relationship

9 June, 2010

Helsinn Healthcare S.A, and Eisai Inc. have announced the signing of a licensing agreement granting Eisai commercialisation rights for a new product for potential use in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in the U.S. Read the Helsinn/Eisai press release here

Astellas completes acquisition of OSI Pharmaceuticals

9 June, 2010

Astellas Pharma Inc. has now announced today that the company has completed its acquisition of OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc., for $4 billion. View the astellas news release in PDF here

Hospira and DURECT sign agreement to develop and commercialise DURECT's POSIDUR (SABER-bupivacaine) in US & Canada

8 June, 2010

Hospira and DURECT have entered into a licensing agreement to develop and commercialise DURECT's POSIDUR (SABER-bupivacaine a long-acting version of the anaesthetic bupivacaine currently in Phase III clinical trials. Read about Hospira and DURECT here

Vivalis partners with Sanofi Pasteur for the discovery of human monoclonal antibodies against infectious diseases

8 June, 2010

Vivalis has announced the signature with Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi-Aventis Group, of a commercial license and collaboration agreement for the discovery and development of fully human monoclonal antibodies against several infectious disease targets. Read more about Vivalis and Sanofi Pasteur collaboration here

Zealand Pharma announces an extension of the lixisenatide global licensing agreement with Sanofi-Aventis KK

8 June, 2010

Zealand Pharma A/S, the biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative peptide-based drugs, is pleased to announce that the global licensing agreement with Sanofi-Aventis has been amended to provide for the development and commercialisation of Lixisenatide (AVE0010/ZP10) in combination with Lantus, Sanofi's recombinant human insulin analog. View the Zealand Pharma's press release in PDF format

Forest Laboratories and TransTech Pharma enter into license agreement

8 June, 2010

Forest Laboratories and TransTech Pharma enter into license agreement for the development and commercialisation of glucokinase activators with deal valued at up to $1.105 billion. Read the full article at the Forest Labs website

Grifols nabs Talecris in $3.4bn buyout deal

7 June, 2010

Spain's Grifols has struck a $3.4 billion deal to buy Talecris Biotherapeutics, finally delivering a premium return for the investment groups that backed the Research Triangle Park, NC-based biotech. Read the Grifols / Talecris story at Reuters

Sanofi-Aventis and Ascenta agree up to $398m cancer R&D deal

4 June, 2010

Ascenta Therapeutics have announced the signing of a global collaboration and licensing agreement with Sanof-Aventis covering several early-stage agents being investigated for their potential to restore tumour cell apoptosis (programmed cell death). More on Sanofi-Aventis / Ascenta deal at Reuters

Merck & Co. sets up cancer trial network to speed development of cancer drugs and vaccines

4 June 2010

Merck has announced the launch of the Merck Oncology Collaborative Trials Network, a pioneering clinical trial network focussing on the development of Merck drug and vaccine candidates being investigated for the treatment and prevention of cancer. Read the Merck report in the Wall Street Journal here

Millipore shareholders OK $6bn sale to Merck KGaA

4 June, 2010

Millipore Corporation, a leading provider of technologies, tools and services for the global life science industry have announced that its shareholders have approved the previously announced acquisition of all outstanding shares of common stock of Millipore by Merck KGaA. Read more on the Millipore / Merck story at BusinessWeek

Biovail to pay Kyowa Hakko Kirin up to $65 million for US and Canadian rights to Parkinson's drug

June 3, 2010

BLS has paid an upfront fee of $10 million, and could pay up to $20 million in potential development milestones through U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and up to an additional $35 million if certain sales-based milestones are met. BLS will also make tiered, royalty payments of up to 30% on net commercial sales of products containing istradefylline. In connection with this transaction, BLS has also entered into a supply agreement with Kyowa Hakko Kirin for the supply of istradefylline See the full release at Biovail

TauRx Therapeutics enters collaborative R&D agreement with Bayer Schering Pharma

June 3, 2010

Through this collaboration, the two companies will develop specific markers that will aid in the diagnostics and management of Tau-protein related AD using brain-imaging technology. The diagnostics they are jointly aiming to develop will have application in disease treatment and potentially disease prevention Read full release at TauRx

Orexo signs respiratory disease pact with Johnson & Johnson

June 3, 2010

The agreement gives J&J units Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Janssen Pharmaceutica licenses to two of Orexo’s advanced preclinical programmes focusing on discovering and developing small-molecule treatments for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other inflammatory diseases Read more at GEN

Astellas gets 87% of OSI Pharmaceuticals shares in sweetened bid

June 3, 2010

The initial offer period expired at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on June 2, 2010. Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the depositary for the tender offer, has advised that a total of 48,415,727 shares were validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the initial offer period, representing approximately 79% of OSI's issued and outstanding shares Read teh full story At Reuters

Teva breaks deal with Bayer to launch Yaz copy

2 June, 2010

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has raced into the U.S. market with copycat versions of Yaz, one of Bayer's key contraceptive drugs. But has the Israeli generics giant jumped the gun? Read the Teva/Bayer story at Reuters

Pfizer and Epocrates partner to give healthcare providers access to medical information specialists for medication questions

2 June, 2010

Pfizer Inc. and Epocrates Inc. today announced a collaboration to give healthcare providers mobile access to the Pfizer Medical Information Group to obtain scientific answers to their product questions or to report an adverse event. More on this Pfizer and Epocrates story

Pfizer Inc. sells China swine vaccine unit to Harbin Pharma for $50m

1 June, 2010

Pfizer is selling its swine vaccine business in China to Harbin Pharmaceutical Group for $50 million, a source with direct knowledge of the deal reported. Read more on this Pfizer story at Reuters

May 2010

Cardiogenics announce update regarding status of Merck & Co. agreement

27 May, 2010*

CardioGenics Holdings Inc., developer of the ultra-sensitive QL Care Point-Of-Care analyser and products for the immunoassay segment of the In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) market, announced a further update regarding the status of its agreement with merck Chimie S.A.S. Read the BioSpace article

Astra Zeneca bags R&D chief

26 May, 2010

A day of big changes at the top of big pharma's research teams has seen Martin Mackay decamp from Pfizer to the newly created position of President of R&D at Astra Zeneca.

dr. Mackay has resigned from Pfizer, where he was Head of R&D from 2007 - 2009. However, following the $68 billion merger with Wyeth, he ran the NewYork based giant's PharmaTherapeutics R&D unit which effectively made him co-head of research with Mikael Dolsten, who led the BioTherapeutics R&D division. Dr Dolsten, head of Wyeth’s R&D until the Pfizer link-up, will now be in charge of all research at the latter. Read more on Martin Mackay's move here

Sanofi-Aventis establishes strategic alliance with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

26 May, 2010

Sanofi-Aventis announced today a strategic alliance agreement with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Biomedical Innovation, which will be known as Biomedical Innovation Program (SABIP). Read more....

Pozen Inc. announces receipt of $20m milestone payment from Astra Zeneca

26 May, 2010

Pozen Inc. announced today the receipt of a $20m milestone payment from Astra Zeneca for the FDA approval of Vimovo delayed-release tablets on 30 April. Pozen will transfer ownership of the Investigational New Drug (IND) and New Drug Application (NDA) for Vimo to Astra Zeneca over the next few weeks. Read article from GEN News

Boehringer selects nanobody lead candidate from Ablynx

26 May, 2010

Boehringer Ingelheim has selected a nanobody lead candidate from Ablynx for further development in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This is the first lead candidate emerging from tha Alzheimer's research collaboration between the two companies. Read the story here

Immunomedics Inc. receives second milestone payment from Nycomed

25 May, 2010

Immunomedics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer and other serious diseases, today announced the receipt of $5m from Nycomed for reaching a clinical milestone under the license and collaboration agreement, entered into on 11 July, 2008. Read the Immunomedics/Nycomed story in full

Galapagos achieves milestones in osteoporosis alliance

25 May, 2010*

Galapagos NV announced today that it has reached milestones in its osteoporosis alliance with Eli Lilly & Co., resulting in payments of €2.9m from Lilly. Read Galapagos/Lilly article here

Clinical Data Inc. announces FDA acceptance of vilazodone for the treatment of major depressive disorder and triggers $15.6 million payment from Merck Serono

24 May, 2010

Clinical Data Inc. today announced that the FDA has accepted for filing the company's New Drug Application for vilazodone for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Read the story in full at the Boston Globe

GlaxoSmithKline advance gives Proteologics $3m cash flow

24 May, 2010

Although drug development company Proteologics Ltd. still has no revenue, it reported a positive cash flow from operations of NIS 9.6 million from a $3 million advance payment by GlaxoSmithKline plc for the company's joint development of a cancer treatment. Read the Globes report

Aspen bids $1.24bn for Australia's Sigma Pharma

21 May, 2010

Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd., Africa's largest drug company, offered to buy Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd. for about A$1.49 billion ($1.24billion) in cash and assumed debt to expand Australia. More

Abbott buys India drugs unit for $3.7bn

21 May, 2010

Abbott Laboratories on Friday announced the $3.7bn acquisition of the generic drugs unit of Indian conglomerate Piramal, in a move which significantly increases the U.S. group's emerging market presence. Read more

Quintiles bolsters market access capabilities by taking on Nycomed's Healthcare Solutions team

20 May, 2010

Quintiles and Nycomed today announced an agreement under which the privately-held Swiss pharmaceutical company has transferred a UK-based Healthcare Solutions Team to Quintiles. This agreement further strengthens Quintiles' market access capabilities and allows Nycomed to protect the employment of a high-performing group. More details

Ablynx announces its third extension of its nanobody collaboration with Pfizer

20 May, 2010

Ablynx have announced that the research collaboration which forms part of its license agreement for Nonobodies to tumour necrosis factor alpha with Pfizer has been extended for another year. More here

Eli-Lilly backs $250m biotech fund for Asia Pacific

20 May, 2010

Eli Lilly has agreed to chip in $50 million toward a new $250 million biotech venture fund for the Asia-Pacific region that will operate out of Brisbane, Australia. Read full story

BigPharma firms back $43m round for NeuroTherapeutics

20 May, 2010

Chicago-based start-up NeuroTherapeutics Pharma has snagged a hefty $43 million Series B from a group of top biotech venture groups, including the venture arms of a pair of BigPharma companies. The money will fund development of the company's lead central nervous system drug through multiple proof-of-concept studies. Read more...

ImaginAb Inc. and Glaxo SmithKline establish collaboration

19 May, 2010

ImaginAb Inc. and the GSK Clinical Imaging Centre (part of the Glaxo SmithKline group of companies) have concluded two research collaboration agreements around a clinical therapeutic antibody asset currently under development by GSK in the field of oncology. More..

Sanofi-Aventis to buy outstanding shares in Nepentes SA

19 May, 2010

French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis SA said Wednesday Sanofi's Polish subsidiary has launched a public tender offer to but 100% of Polish drugs company Nepentes SA. Read story in full

Astellas buys OSI Pharma for $4billion in cancer push

17 May, 2010

Astellas Pharma, Japan's no. 2 drugmaker, agreed to buy U.S. biotech OSI Pharmaceuticals for $4billion in cash in a sweetened bid that will add OSI's blockbuster cancer drug Tarceva to its line-up. Read the full story here

OSI shares up ahead of deadline, higher bid seen

14 May, 2010

Shares of OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. rose more than 3% on Friday ahead of a bidding deadline as investors expected Astellas Pharma Inc. to raise its offer. Full story

Strides and Pfizer in pact for 38 oncology drugs

14 May, 2010

Bangalore-based Strides Arcolab and the world's largest drugmaker Pfizer Ltd. have extended their partnership for generic drugs beyond the U.S. market through a licensing and supply deal for 38 oncology products. Read full story...

Sanofi-Aventis & Merck gear up for animal health sell-off

13 May, 2010

Sanofi-Aventis and Merck & Co. are gearing up to sell parts of the world's largest veterinary drugs operation, offering smaller players in the $19-billion animal health industry a last clear chance to bulk up. More...

Pfizer enters agreement with Ergonex Pharma to acquire investigational treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension

12 May, 2010

Pfizer will acquire terguride, which is in development as a potential treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will support the completion of the ongoing Phase 2 trial for terguride and will have exclusive worldwide rights excluding Japan to commercialize terguride for the treatment of PAH. Ergonex will be eligible to receive milestone payments and royalties on the sales of terguride for PAH.

Response Genetics signs agreement with GlaxoSmithKline to provide proprietary BRAF mutational analysis technology

11 May, 2010

Non-exclusive license agreement with GlaxoSmithKline. Under the terms of the agreement, GSK gains certain rights to Response Genetics’ proprietary PCR analysis technology and diagnostic expertise to assess BRAF gene mutations in human tumor samples. Payments will be made to Response Genetics upon achivement of agreed-to milestones. Further financial details were not disclosed.

Galapagos and Roche expand COPD alliance

11 May, 2010

The partners have increased the number of antibody targets in the alliance. In addition, these targets can now also be used as starting points for molecules consisting of nucleic acids and/or amino acids. As such, the scope of molecules subject to this alliance could potentially include also peptides, siRNA and other nucleic acids.

Intercell and Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica enter strategic partnership to develop animal vaccines

11 May, 2010

Worldwide Option and Exclusive License Agreement under which Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has the right to use certain antigens derived from Intercell’s Antigen Identification Program (AIP®) to develop animal vaccines. Under the agreement, Intercell will receive upfront, option and milestone payments as well as royalties on product net sales.

GlaxoSmithKline extends Asia push with $109.5 million Dong-A Pharmaceutical alliance

11 May, 2010

Strategic partnership whereby GSK buys a 9.9 percent stake in Dong-A and the two share their sales network.

Abbott accelerates emerging markets pharmaceutical leadership with Zydus Cadila collaboration

11 May, 2010

Licensing and supply agreement with Zydus Cadila of India for a portfolio of pharmaceutical products that Abbott will commercialize in 15 emerging markets, enabling the company to further accelerate its emerging markets growth. Abbott will gain rights to at least 24 Zydus products in 15 key emerging markets where Abbott has a strong and growing presence. The agreement also includes an option for the addition of more than 40 Zydus products to the collaboration.

Tekmira Pharmaceuticals and BMS in gene deal

10 May, 2010

Bristol-Myers Squibb will use small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules formulated by Tekmira in stable nucleic acid-lipid particles (SNALP) to silence target genes of interest. Bristol-Myers Squibb will conduct the preclinical work to validate the function of certain genes and share these data with Tekmira. Tekmira can then use the preclinical data to develop RNAi therapeutic drugs against the therapeutic targets of interest. Bristol-Myers Squibb will pay Tekmira US$3.0 million concurrent with the signing of the agreement. Tekmira is responsible for providing a pre-determined number of the SNALP batches over the four-year agreement. Bristol-Myers Squibb will have a first right to negotiate a licensing agreement on certain RNAi products developed by Tekmira that evolve from gene targets validated by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Takeda and Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K. to co-promote Velcade for injection in Japan

10 May, 2010

The co-promotion is anticipated to begin in the second quarter of FY2010. Takeda will receive a percentage of sales (based on certain conditions specified in the contract) as a co-promotion fee. Other financial conditions of the agreement are not disclosed.

Evotec enters integrated drug discovery alliance with Genentech

10 May, 2010

Evotec will apply its integrated and innovative drug discovery platform in combination with its extensive disease biology expertise against targets nominated by Genentech. This will include assay development and high throughput screening, medicinal chemistry and structural biology. The aim of the collaboration is to deliver high quality leads and development candidates to support Genentech's research efforts. Further commercial details were not released.

Bayer obtains rights to female sex dysfunction drug from EndoCeutics

6 May, 2010

Bayer has signed a deal with EndoCeutics, giving the German group rights to Vaginorm, an investigational treatment for vaginal atrophy and female sexual dysfunction. Vaginorm, an intra-vaginal application of the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone, is in a Phase III clinical programme and Bayer says research has shown that one quarter to one-half of postmenopausal women suffer from vaginal atrophy, tissue changes that can cause dryness, itching, burning and painful sex.

Ariad Pharmaceuticals partner Merck Sharp & Dohme to acquire cancer treatment

5 May, 2010

ARIAD has granted Merck an exclusive license to develop, manufacture and commercialize ridaforolimus in oncology, and Merck will assume responsibility for all ridaforolimus activities, including clinical trials and regulatory filings. Both companies had previously shared co-exclusive rights.

Boehringer Ingelheim and Micromet in global collaboration for multiple myeloma BiTE antibody

5 May, 2010

Micromet and Boehringer Ingelheim will collaborate on the development of the BiTE antibody. Micromet is responsible for discovery of the BiTE antibody and will jointly conduct with Boehringer Ingelheim further pre-clinical studies. Boehringer Ingelheim is responsible for all manufacturing activities, clinical development and worldwide commercialization subject to Micromet's co-promotion right in the U.S. Micromet will bear the costs up to a pre-defined amount for its preclinical activities. During commercialization Micromet will solely bear the costs for its sales force in the U.S. All other costs for research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of the BiTE antibody will be borne by Boehringer Ingelheim.

Under the terms of the agreement Boehringer Ingelheim will pay Micromet an upfront cash payment of 5 million euro (approximately $6.6 million). Micromet is eligible to receive development and regulatory milestone payments of up to 50 million euro (approximately $66 million) and tiered low double-digit royalties on product sales outside the U.S. In the U.S. Micromet and Boehringer Ingelheim will jointly co-promote the BiTE antibody with commercial terms commensurate with a profit split.

Sanofi-aventis joins Massachusetts Life Sciences Center's Corporate Consortium Program to support innovation in R&D

5 May, 2010

sanofi-aventis will contribute funds to help support Massachusetts' commitment to grow and retain early-stage life sciences companies. This contribution will be pooled with existing MLSC resources to support the Accelerator Loan Program, which is designed to provide working capital to help sustain early-stage companies through critical stages of development. In addition to supporting life sciences within Massachusetts, the partnership will provide sanofi-aventis access to innovative ideas and technologies that may lead to the development of new healthcare solutions.

TB Alliance and AstraZeneca form research collaboration to fight TB

4 May, 2010

TB Alliance and AstraZeneca will both contribute promising TB drug discovery projects into a joint portfolio that will be co-developed by both parties. Sharing resources and creating a seamless path to clinical-stage development will improve the efficiency of both organizations' research programs. By focusing on novel compound classes, the drug candidates identified by the collaboration are likely to be effective against both drug-resistant and drug-sensitive tuberculosis. The financial terms were not disclosed.

Bioseek in predictive human biology to drug discovery agreement with Eisai

4 May, 2010

BioSeek will apply its proprietary BioMAP® platform to advance Eisai’s multiple discovery projects in the oncology and inflammation areas. The agreement encompasses scientific projects at Eisai sites in the U.S. and Japan. The financial terms include research funding, success milestones payments and license fees: specific terms were not disclosed.

Targacept and AstraZeneca to expand TC-5619 development program

3 May, 2010

Amendment to its 2005 collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca expanding the TC-5619 development program. In addition to the current development of TC-5619 in cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia (CDS), the amended terms provide for parallel development in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and potentially Alzheimer’s disease. AstraZeneca will make an $11.0 million payment to Targacept and maintain its future option to license TC-5619.

Glenmark and Sanofi-Aventis in $345 million drug-licensing pact

3 May, 2010

Gllenmark will receive $20 million initially, and additional payments of as much as $325 million linked to development, regulatory and sales milestones, Glenmark said in a statement today. Glenmark may also receive royalties from Paris-based Sanofi, France’s largest drugmaker.

Sanofi-Aventis will have exclusive marketing rights in North America, Europe and Japan for TRPV3 and GRC 15300, which is in a new class of pain treatment. Glenmark has the right to co-promote the products in the U.S. and five Eastern European nations.

Sanofi-Aventis will also have co-marketing rights in Brazil, Russia, China and seven other countries, and Glenmark will retain exclusive rights to India and the rest of the world.

April 2010

EyeGate Pharma in research collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline to deliver medicines using EyeGate II delivery system

April 29, 2010

Research collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline to evaluate the delivery of several GSK therapies to the anterior (front) and posterior (back) tissues of the eye using the EyeGate® II delivery system. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Synergetics signs $32 million licensing deal with Alcon

April 28, 2010

Signing of a pair of agreements with Alcon Laboratories, Inc. granting Alcon a license to sell certain products manufactured by Synergetics for worldwide distribution on a co-exclusive basis throughout the extensive Alcon network and covering the terms of supply of such products to Alcon by Synergetics. The agreements also settle all litigation between Synergetics and Alcon.

As provided by the Settlement & License Agreement and Supply Agreement, Alcon will pay Synergetics approximately $32 million for the right to sell certain Synergetics’ patented products worldwide and to settle all pending litigation between the companies. These Agreements also provide for the resolution of any future disputes through a well-defined mediation process.

Roche NimbleGen and Biogemma develop enhanced sequence capture technology for wheat and canola

April 27, 2010

goal of this partnership was to enhance capture performance on these complex species in order to achieve an enrichment rate that makes downstream sequencing more effective. The new NimbleGen Sequence Capture procedure was implemented and evaluated at Biogemma, and researchers are now well equipped for large-scale genomic marker discovery for wheat and rapeseed.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Parkinsons's drug acquired by Aton Pharma

April 26, 2010

Acquired the U.S. marketing rights to LODOSYN (carbidopa) tablets from Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Merck & Co to help sell Nycomed lung drug Daxas in EU, Canada

April 26, 2010

Nycomed will receive an undisclosed upfront fee from Merck and is eligible for certain payments based on defined regulatory and commercialization milestones for Daxas. If approved by the relevant regulatory authorities, Merck and Nycomed will co-promote Daxas in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Canada. Nycomed will manufacture and distribute the finished product in all countries covered by the co-promotion agreement. In the United Kingdom Merck will have exclusive commercialization rights and Nycomed will supply finished product and has retained a co-promotion option. Further details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Avecia Biotechnology and Pfizer enter manufacturing agreement

April 26, 2010

The agreement includes technology transfer, process validation and commercial supply of a key component of Macugen.

Pfizer and Medicines For Malaria Venture seek to expand fight against malaria with intermittent preventive treatment option for pregnant women

April 23, 2010

Pfizer plans to seek marketing authorization in selected malaria-endemic African countries where, with MMV, it will seek to introduce the use of this important potential therapy to improve pregnancy outcomes and neonatal survival.

Merck & Co obtains exclusive rights to market and distribute MassBiologics' Tetanus-Diphtheria (Td) vaccine in US

April 21, 2010

Merck plans to begin distributing the Td vaccine in June 2010. Specific financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Silence Therapeutics and AstraZeneca extend siRNA delivery collaboration

April 21, 2010

Both companies retain the right to commercialize the novel delivery solutions that emerge from the collaboration. This agreement is independent of the companies' other ongoing collaboration which is focused on developing novel RNAi therapeutics against specific disease targets exclusive to AstraZeneca.

Seattle Genetics and Genentech extend antibody-drug conjugate collaboration

April 20, 2010

Roche will pay $9.5 million to renew exclusive licenses to specific targets and extend the research term under the parties’ existing antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) collaboration agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Genentech has rights to use Seattle Genetics’ ADC technology with antibodies against targets selected by Genentech. Genentech is responsible for research, product development, manufacturing and commercialization. Seattle Genetics is entitled to receive fees, progress-dependent milestone payments and royalties on net sales of any resulting ADC products.

Dimerix Bioscience and Takeda in agreement to use GPCR-HIT platform in discovery program

April 20, 2010

Dimerix will use its GPCR-HIT platform and leading insights into the ability of G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) to form complexes, called heteromers, to work with undisclosed GPCRs of interest to Takeda.

Novartis acquires generic lung drug company Oriel Therapeutics

April 19, 2010

Novartis has bought privately held U.S. company Oriel Therapeutics to boost its generics portfolio in the multibillion-dollar market for respiratory drugs.

Stemgent and Pfizer in research reagents collaboration

April 16, 2010

According to the agreement, scientists involved in cell-based research will now be able to purchase fully licensed compounds with pharmaceutical modes of action as off-the-shelf products for use in non-clinical experiments. It is hoped that along with other Stemgent offerings, the materials will greatly benefit scientists working in a diverse range of stem cell and cell-based applications, including neuroscience, cancer and metabolic disease.

Roche boosts position in diabetes market with Elron Electronics' Medingo unit

April 13, 2010

Roche will make an upfront payment of $160 million to shareholders as well as up to 25 percent of the upfront payment in performance-related milestones for Medingo, which is developing a semi-disposable insulin patch pump.

Mersana Therapeutics in research and license agreement with Teva for development and commercialization of XMT-1107

April 13, 2010

Research and exclusive license agreement with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. to develop and commercialize XMT-1107, a novel fumagillin analog, for the treatment of all indications, including cancer.

Teva will receive an exclusive license to XMT-1107 for all indications worldwide, excluding Japan, for which Mersana will retain rights. Mersana will be eligible to receive up to $334 million if all development, regulatory and commercial milestones are met across several indications. In addition, Mersana will be eligible to receive royalties on net sales worldwide. Teva will cover all development costs for XMT-1107, excluding those specific to Japan.

Metabolex initiates research collaboration with Takeda

April 13, 2010

The collaboration brings together Metabolex's expertise in diabetes and metabolic disease targets with TSF's deep strength in antibody drug discovery and non-clinical development.

Arecor and Genzyme form collaboration to advance protein therapeutics

April 13, 2010

The agreement provides for a close working relationship between Genzyme and Arecor in developing stable, high strength formulations of labile biomolecules. This agreement is the result of a two year working relationship where Arecor has demonstrated their technologies offer an improvement over conventional approaches in protein formulation.

Axis-Shield in agreement with Abbott for diabetes immunoassay

April 12, 2010

The test, which will be designed to be used to monitor treatment efficacy in patients with diabetes, will incorporate novel Axis-Shield technology from pioneering research at its Dundee plant.

Almac Group partners with Merck KGaA and the MRC to assess markers of response to cetuximab therapy

April 12, 2010

Almac will utilise samples from the COIN trial to carry out quantitative polymerase chain reaction profiling and data analysis to assess other potential biomarkers in the context of combination therapy with cetuximab.

CureDM partners novel diabetes treatment with Sanofi-Aventis

April 8, 2010

Sanofi-Aventis acquires the exclusive worldwide rights to manufacture, develop and market CureDM’s Pancreate™ (proisletide acetate), for the treatment of diabetes in human and veterinary applications. CureDM will receive an upfront cash payment and success- based development, regulatory and sales performance milestone payments totalling 335 Million USD. In addition, CureDM is eligible to receive increasing royalties on worldwide product sales.

Distribution agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim offers Sigma-Aldrich customers expanded biodegradable polylactide polymers for biomaterials research

April 8, 2010

The agreement provides an important, seamless supply of polymer products to support biomaterials research.

Crucell in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline on second generation malaria vaccine candidate

April 6, 2010

Crucell will contribute its recombinant malaria vaccine candidate, Ad35-CS, based on Crucell's AdVac technology and PER.C6 manufacturing platform and GSK will contribute its late stage malaria vaccine candidate RTS,S/AS. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Warner Chilcott in Amendment to Actonel collaboration with Sanofi-Aventis

April 5, 2010

Warner Chilcott will take full operational control over the promotion, marketing and R&D decisions for Actonel in the United States and Puerto Rico, and will assume responsibility for all associated costs relating to those activities. Prior to the amendment, Warner Chilcott shared such costs with sanofi-aventis in these territories. In return, sanofi-aventis will receive, as part of the global collaboration payments between the parties, collaboration payments from Warner Chilcott based on an agreed upon percentage of U.S. and PR net sales for the remainder of the term of the collaboration agreement, which expires at the end of 2014. As part of the amendment, a number of sales representatives currently promoting Actonel for sanofi-aventis in the United States are expected to join the Warner Chilcott sales force.

Pfenex in research study with Pfizer

April 5, 2010

The relationship will focus on the evaluation of MDRNA's proprietary di-alkylated amino acids (DiLA2) platform and UsiRNA constructs for RNA interference (RNAi). Additional details of the collaboration were not disclosed. This marks MDRNA's fourth early collaborative effort announced with a major pharmaceutical company in the past nine months.

AMAG Pharmaceuticals in anemia drug licensing deal with Takeda

April 1, 2010

AMAG Pharmaceuticals and Takeda Pharmaceuticals have entered into a strategic collaboration agreement related to Feraheme (ferumoxytol) Injection for intravenous (IV) use in all therapeutic indications in select ex-US territories.

Astellas obtains China rights to Teijin Pharma's gout treatment

April 1, 2010

TMX-67 is an oral, once-daily, non-purine selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase that is, according to Teijin, especially notable for being well-tolerated by patients with mild renal impairment.

Allergan licenses drug for night-time urination from Serenity Pharmaceuticals

April 1, 2010

Allergan receives exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize Ser-120. The agreement encompasses all potential indications except Primary Nocturnal Enuresis (pediatric bedwetting). Allergan will make an upfront payment to Serenity of $43 million, potential development and regulatory milestone payments of up to $122 million, future potential sales milestones, and royalty payments on worldwide sales.

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum extends Cyanokit cooperation with Merck Serono

April 1, 2010

Under the agreement the distribution territories will include Ireland, UK and The Netherlands in addition to the existing territories the Nordic and the Baltic countries.

March 2010

GlaxoSmithKline and Isis Pharmaceuticals in drug development deal

March 31, 2010

New strategic alliance that will apply the Isis antisense drug discovery platform to seek out and develop new therapeutics against targets for rare and serious disease, including infectious diseases and some conditions causing blindness.

Under the terms of the agreement, which covers up to six programs, Isis will receive an upfront $35 million payment from GSK and is eligible to receive on average up to $20 million in milestones per program up to Phase 2 proof-of-concept (PoC). GSK will have the option to license compounds at PoC, and will be responsible for all further development and commercialization. Isis will be eligible to receive license fees and milestone payments, totaling nearly $1.5 billion, in the event all six programs are successfully developed for one or more indications and commercialized through to pre-agreed sales targets. In addition, Isis will receive up to double-digit royalties on sales from any product that is successfully commercialized.

Phosphagenics in global agreement with Novartis Animal Health for use of transdermal insulin in companion animals

March 31, 2010

Global agreement to develop their patented transdermal (TPM) insulin delivery system for the treatment of diabetes in companion animals.

Roche exercises option on compounds from collaboration with Siena Biotech

March 31, 2010

Siena Biotech has received an undisclosed option exercise fee and is eligible for further success payments upon attainment of certain development and regulatory milestones. Following successful development and commercialization of any of the candidate compounds, Siena Biotech will also receive royalties on product sales: Siena Biotech has retained rights for the further research and development of commonly discovered novel compounds for Orphan indications.

Silence Therapeutics and Dainippon Sumitomo expand siRNA delivery collaboration

March 30, 2010

Under this collaboration, which was originally entered into in August 2009, the companies are leveraging Silence's proprietary siRNA molecules and multiple lipid delivery and targeting technologies to demonstrate functional delivery of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics to specific disease targets in the body. Under the terms of the expansion, the companies will examine delivery to additional disease targets selected by Dainippon Sumitomo. The financial details of the original collaboration and this extension have not been disclosed.

NeurOp in drug discovery collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb

March 30, 2010

Bristol-Myers Squibb has agreed to pay NeurOp an upfront fee of $1.5 million and to fund a two-year research collaboration. In addition, NeurOp is eligible to receive up to $74 million in potential milestone payments for the successful development of a compound in major depression and royalties on worldwide sales of commercialized compounds. The compound class to be developed comprises NR2B subunit-specific N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists.

Thermo Fisher Scientific in supply pact with Eli Lilly

March 26, 2010

As part of a new five-year agreement, the Fisher Clinical Services business of Thermo Fisher will take over responsibility for Lilly’s in-house clinical trial materials manufacturing, packaging and labeling operations on-site at the Lilly Technology Center – North in Indianapolis. This transition is expected to be completed in the summer of 2010.

CELLECTIS and Boehringer Ingelheim license to use homologous recombination patents

March 25, 2010

This license covers an Institut Pasteur technology for introducing new features in genomes, for which Cellectis has an exclusive license. The terms of the contract have not been disclosed.

Morphogenesis signs agreement with Novartis to further development of cancer immunotherapy for companion animals

March 24, 2010

Through this agreement, Morphogenesis and Novartis will work closely together to advance the new platform technology to the companion animal market.

GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer collaborate to supply pneumonia vaccines

March 24, 2010

GAVI's program to treat pneumococcal disease received initial funding of $1.5 billion from the governments of Italy, the U.K., Canada, Russia, Norway and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Abbott completes acquisition of Starlims Technologies

March 23, 2010

Abbott has completed its $123 million acquisition of STARLIMS Technologies Ltd., a leader in laboratory information management systems.

Teva Pharmaceutical to Acquire Ratiopharm for nearly $5 billion

March 18, 2010

The transaction is subject to certain conditions including relevant regulatory approvals. On a pro forma basis, the combined company would have had 2009 revenues of $16.2 billion. Teva expects to complete the transaction by year-end 2010.

Vectura and Sandoz Pharmaceuticals revise VR315 agreement

March 18, 2010

Vectura regains full rights and responsibilities for the development and commercialisation of VR315 in the US and is released from its profit share obligations. The reacquisition of full control of this important product in the US is part of Vectura’s strategy to become a cash-generative specialty pharmaceutical company, and VR315 will form the cornerstone of Vectura’s nascent US operations.

Vectura will receive an additional payment of $9.5m from Sandoz in Q2 2010. This follows a $6m milestone received in August 2009 and $2m received in 2006. Potential further payments to Vectura may be generated under the revised agreement. Additionally, Sandoz will put in place a loan facility of up to $25m to facilitate Vectura’s development and commercialisation of VR315 in the US.

Prometheus and Bayer Schering Pharma to apply novel diagnostic platform to oncology therapeutic candidates

March 17, 2010

Prometheus will receive an upfront payment, research and development support and testing fees, and potential additional payments upon the achievement of certain development milestones. Prometheus will be eligible for upfront and milestone payments up to $160 million if all drug candidates are successfully developed and obtain regulatory approval.

Johns Hopkins University Brain Science Institute in license agreement with Eisai to develop new treatments for neurological disease

March 16, 2010

Eisai has granted the Brain Science Institute, or BSI, non-exclusive U.S. rights to use its GCPII technology to generate inhibitor molecules for diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, including peripheral neuropathy and neurodegeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and ALS, as well as non-central nervous system diseases.

Eli Lilly gets rights to sell testosterone drug from Acrux

March 16, 2010

Exclusive worldwide license agreement for the potential commercialization of Acrux's experimental underarm testosterone solution (proposed tradename AXIRON(TM)).

4-Antibody in long-term collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim for therapeutic antibodies

March 16, 2010

4-Antibody AG will receive payments of up to EUR 177.5 million (CHF 266 million) including upfront and milestone payments from Boehringer Ingelheim upon achievement of certain clinical development milestones. Further financial details were not disclosed.

Sigma-Aldrich to sell Pfizer's bioactive small molecule compounds

March 15, 2010

The Pfizer compounds will be sold worldwide directly through Sigma-Aldrich as in-stock, pre-packaged items and, upon request, in bulk, and will also be mapped to genes and associated pathways and interactors via Sigma-Aldrich's award-winning online search platform. While the initial agreement includes approximately 100 Pfizer compounds, Sigma-Aldrich expects to add further Pfizer compounds on a regular basis.

Tocris Bioscience in deal to supply Pfizer research compounds

March 15, 2010

Scientists involved in preclinical research will now be able to purchase authentic, fully-licensed, non-formulated, sunitinib, varenicline and other Pfizer compounds as off-the shelf products for use in their preclinical research studies. In addition, a significant number of Pfizer's ‘literature compounds’ - biologically active small molecules that have not progressed from development to clinical use - will also be offered for sale.

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum agrees to additional Kineret drug campaign with Amgen

March 12, 2010

Under the agreement Amgen will run an additional Kineret® campaign at its Boulder facility in Colorado, as well as manufacture drug product at its facility in Puerto Rico. The objective of this additional campaign is to meet an expected increased market demand of Kineret® until Swedish Orphan Biovitrum has transferred manufacturing processes to new contract manufacturers.

AstraZeneca boosts generic exposure with Torrent Pharmaceuticals deal

March 11, 2010

AstraZeneca in supply partnership with India's Torrent Pharmaceuticals on Thursday, its first such link with a generic drugmaker as it seeks to boost its presence in emerging markets and counter patent losses on blockbuster medicines.

Abbott Laboratories to buy Facet Biotech for $722 million

March 10, 2010

Abbott will acquire Facet for $27 per share in cash for a net transaction value of approximately $450 million, which includes a purchase price of approximately $722 million less Facet's projected cash and marketable securities at closing of approximately $272 million.

The acquisition brings access to biologics in two key therapeutic areas, immunology and oncology. The compounds include daclizumab – a Phase II investigational biologic intended to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) that is expected to move into Phase III development in the second quarter 2010 – and oncology compounds in early- to mid-stage development. Daclizumab is being developed in collaboration with Biogen Idec and certain oncology compounds are being developed in collaboration with other parties.

Novartis takes option on Transgene cancer vaccine

March 10, 2010

Transgene could be in line for milestones payments of up to 700 million euros ($950 million), in addition to a non-refundable $10 million option fee.

Biosearch Technologies expands licensing of Roche patents to manufacture kits targeting the in-vitro diagnostic industry

March 9, 2010

The expanded license grants Biosearch the right to manufacture and sell validated kits to the in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) marketplace as licensed products covered by multiple patents assigned to Roche. Kits sold to the IVD industry will comprise of probes, primers, enzymes, and any other essential reagents necessary to amplify and detect diagnostic targets.

Sanofi-Aventis and Merck to create animal health leader

March 9, 2010

Sanofi-aventis has exercised its option to combine Merial with Intervet/Schering-Plough, Merck’s Animal Health business, to create a global leader in Animal Health.

The new joint venture will be equally-owned by Merck and sanofi-aventis. The formation of this new animal health joint venture is subject to execution of final agreements, antitrust review in the United States, Europe and other countries and other customary closing conditions. The completion of the transaction is expected to occur in approximately the next 12 months.

Eli Lilly to acquire European rights to Pfizer Animal Health assets

March 8, 2010

Elanco, the animal health division of Eli Lilly has signed an agreement to acquire the European rights to a portfolio of certain Pfizer Animal Health products. The products, including vaccines, parasiticides and feed additives, are used in both the production animal and companion animal markets.

Lilly will acquire European rights to a portfolio of marketed products, as well as a biological manufacturing facility in Sligo, Ireland. In return, Pfizer will receive an undisclosed upfront payment. In order to ensure an uninterrupted supply of product to customers, both companies also have signed corresponding manufacturing supply agreements. Closing of the transaction is contingent upon clearance from European regulatory authorities and other customary closing conditions. No other terms of the transaction were disclosed.

Watson to acquire US rights to Crinon progesterone gel product line

March 4, 2010

Watson will provide Columbia with an initial $47 million payment and will receive exclusive progesterone gel product rights in the U.S. and 11.2 million newly issued shares of Columbia common stock. Watson will also have the right to designate a member of Columbia's board of directors. Additional contingent payments related to the successful completion of clinical development milestones, receipt of regulatory approvals and product launches could total approximately up to $45.5 million. Watson will also pay Columbia a royalty on Watson's sales of the progesterone gel product and any next generation products. Columbia will be responsible for the anticipated clinical and regulatory costs related to obtaining approval for the progesterone gel product for prevention of preterm birth in women with a short cervix. Excess development costs over a defined cap, if any, as well as costs related to the development of the second generation product will be the responsibility of Watson. Pursuant to a supply agreement, Columbia will be responsible for manufacturing the progesterone gel products.

Abbott to collaborate with GlaxoSmithKline on molecular diagnostic test to select candidate patients for future skin cancer immunotherapy

March 4, 2010

Agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to develop a molecular diagnostic test intended for use as an aid in selecting patients who may benefit from a skin cancer treatment in development by GSK.

Abbott, in conjunction with GSK, will develop and commercialize a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test for use on the Abbott m2000™ automated molecular instrument system. The test will be designed to detect MAGE-A3, a tumor-specific antigen that is expressed in skin cancer and a wide variety of other cancers, but not in normal cells. In July 2009, both companies announced a similar collaboration and Phase III investigation for the MAGE-A3 marker in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Allergan in pact for new pain drug

March 3, 2010

Allergan will grant to Bristol-Myers Squibb exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize AGN-209323 and backup compounds. The agreement encompasses all potential indications except ophthalmology indications for products formulated for local delivery to the eye, where Allergan will retain certain rights. Bristol-Myers Squibb will make an upfront payment of $40 million, potential AGN-209323 related development- and regulatory-based milestone payments of up to $373 million, and royalty payments on worldwide sales.

Transition Therapeutics and Eli Lilly in licensing deal for series of preclinical compounds

March 3, 2010

Transition will receive exclusive worldwide rights to develop and potentially commercialize a class of compounds that, in preclinical diabetes models showed potential to provide glycemic control and other beneficial effects including weight loss.

Sanofi-Aventis and Novalar Pharmaceuticalsin exclusive license agreement to commercialize OraVerse in Germany

March 3, 2010

Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland will have the right to commercialize and market Novalar's OraVerse in Germany with options to extend the license to additional European countries. OraVerse is the first and only local anesthesia reversal agent that accelerates the return of normal sensation and function following routine dental procedures. OraVerse is approved for use in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration and sold by Novalar direct to dentists.

Abbott and GSK collaborate on molecular diagnostic test to select candidate patients for future skin cancer immunotherapy

March 3, 2010

Abbott, in conjunction with GSK, will develop and commercialize a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test for use on the Abbott m2000(TM) automated molecular instrument system. The test will be designed to detect MAGE-A3, a tumor-specific antigen that is expressed in skin cancer and a wide variety of other cancers, but not in normal cells. In July 2009, both companies announced a similar collaboration and Phase III investigation for the MAGE-A3 marker in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Gentronix signs three year agreement with GlaxoSmithKline for GreenScreen HC and BlueScreen HC genotoxicity assays

March 3, 2010

This agreement extends the existing relationship between Gentronix and GSK in respect of GreenScreen HC, to include the use by GSK of BlueScreen HC in 384 well format, the latest Gentronix human cell reporter-based assay for compound profiling.

To-BBB technologies and GlaxoSmithKline to collaborate on brain delivery of biologic product

March 3, 2010

to-BBB will work with scientists at the GSK R&D centre in Shanghai, China to further evaluate the brain delivery of treatments enhanced with to-BBB’s G-Technology.

WuXi PharmaTech in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical R&D for preclinical services and training

March 2, 2010

WuXi PharmaTech will become a provider of toxicology and other non-clinical services to JANSSEN. In addition, JANSSEN will provide training and other services, reimbursed by WuXi, to establish the GLP quality system and technical capabilities to meet the international standards at WuXi's toxicology facility in Suzhou, China.

Astellas Pharma commences tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of OSI Pharmaceuticals for $52 per share

March 2, 2010

The offer and withdrawal rights are scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight New York City time on March 31, 2010, unless the offer is extended.

Immunovaccine signs licensing deal with Pfizer Animal Health to develop third livestock vaccine

March 2, 2010

Pfizer Animal Health will exercise a licensing option on the Company's vaccine enhancement and delivery platform to develop a third livestock vaccine. This represents an important milestone for Immunovaccine as it further validates the potential of its vaccine platform, and enables the Company to apply the upfront signing fees, and any milestone and royalty payments to further advance its vaccine pipeline.

Merck KGaA to buy Millipore in US $7.2 billion deal

March 1, 2010

Merck KGaA will acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of Millipore, for US$ 107 per share in cash, or a total transaction value, including net debt, of approximately EUR 5.3 billion (US$ 7.2 billion). The transaction was approved by the boards of directors of both companies. Millipore and Merck will create a EUR 2.1 billion (US$ 2.9 billion) world-class partner for the Life Science sector, achieving significant scale in high-margin specialty products with an attractive growth profile.

AstraZeneca exercises option to acquire Merck's interest in partnership products

March 1, 2010

Those products are Atacand(TM), Lexxel(TM), Plendil(TM) and Entocort(TM) plus certain products currently in clinical development. In April, Merck will receive a payment of $647 million which represents the net present value as of March 31, 2008 for the company's share of the projected pretax revenue for the non-PPI products.

Baxter to acquire all outstanding equity of ApaTech

March 1, 2010

Definitive agreement whereby Baxter will acquire all of the outstanding equity of ApaTech for total consideration of up to $330 million. As a result of the acquisition, Baxter will acquire ACTIFUSE, a silicate substituted calcium phosphate synthetic bone graft material which is currently marketed in the United States, E.U., and other select markets around the world, and manufacturing and R&D facilities located in the U.K., United States and Germany.

Watson Pharmaceuticals licenses Population Council's novel contraceptive ring

March 1, 2010

Exclusive licensing agreement to commercialize the Population Council's investigational contraceptive vaginal ring in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The ring, which contains two hormonal products - ethinyl estradiol and Nestorone®, a novel, synthetic progestin - is currently in Phase 3 clinical development.

Watson will pay the Population Council an undisclosed licensing fee and make additional payments based on the achievement of certain regulatory and sales performance milestones. If the product is successfully commercialized, Watson also will pay royalties based on sales in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As a result of this agreement, Watson will assume responsibility for specific future development, regulatory, and marketing expenses related to the commercialization of the contraceptive ring. In addition, the agreement has special provisions for providing the product to certain public-sector organizations.

Teva to market Parkinson's drug in China for Lundbeck

March 1, 2010

The agreement gives Teva the right to market Azilect in China and five other Asian countries. Lundbeck will be responsible for conducting clinical trials of the drug and obtaining SFDA approval.

February 2010

Regulus Therapeutics and GlaxoSmithKline in new collaboration to develop and commercialize microRNA therapeutics targeting miR-122

February 25, 2010

Regulus will receive additional upfront and early-stage milestone payments with the potential to earn more than $150 million in miR-122-related combined payments, and tiered royalties up to double digits on worldwide sales of products.

Basilea Pharmaceutica partners with Astellas for late atage anti-fungal

February 24, 2010

Basilea will receive an upfront payment of CHF 75 million and will be eligible to receive up to CHF 478 million in additional payments on achievement of pre-specified development and sales milestones. Basilea will also receive significant double-digit tiered royalties on sales. Astellas is granted an exclusive right to commercialize isavuconazole whereas Basilea retains an option to co-promote the product in the United States, Canada, major European countries and the People's Republic of China. Basilea and Astellas will jointly participate in the development of isavuconazole. Astellas will lead the development and contribute the majority of the investments required for completing the clinical development program investigating isavuconazole in the treatment of patients with invasive fungal infections caused by Aspergillus or other filamentous fungi (mold infections) and Candida fungi (yeast infections). Basilea will initially manage manufacturing. Astellas has the right to take over the management of manufacturing and will bear manufacturing costs for commercial supply and commercialization costs.

Eli Lilly, Merck and Pfizer join forces to accelerate research and improve treatment of lung and gastric cancers in Asia

February 23, 2010

Formation of the Asian Cancer Research Group, Inc., (ACRG), an independent, not-for-profit company established to accelerate research and ultimately improve treatment for patients affected with the most commonly-diagnosed cancers in Asia.

Viamet and Novartis Option Fund targeting metalloenzymes deal

February 23, 2010

Licensing option agreement with the Novartis Option Fund. Under terms of the agreement, Viamet will utilize its proprietary Metallophile Technology to discover and develop novel metalloenzyme inhibitors against a specific metalloenzyme of high interest to Novartis. The agreement includes an upfront fee and potential milestones totaling over $200 million as well as product royalties.

CellCentric licenses novel epigenetic discovery program to Takeda

February 23, 2010

CellCentric will receive from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited an upfront payment and pre-clinical and clinical milestones, in addition to royalties. Based on the royalties and milestones defined, the overall deal could be worth in excess of $200m to CellCentric over the course of the agreement.

ExonHit announces inclusion of lead compounds into Allergan collaboration

February 23, 2010

ExonHit will continue to lead the medicinal chemistry effort related to this target. The compounds are active against a new enzyme target potentially useful for therapeutic development in ophthalmology and neurodegenerative indications. Milestone and royalty terms of the existing collaboration agreement will apply to these compounds and the products derived from them.

DURECT and Nycomed amend POSIDUR license agreement to separate funding and control of US and EU clinical programs and to expand territory

February 22, 2010

The amendment provides DURECT with final decision-making authority over clinical trials intended for the U.S. registration of POSIDUR and Nycomed with decision-making authority over clinical trials for the E.U. and other countries licensed to it. DURECT will have funding responsibility for all current and future clinical trials intended for U.S. registration of POSIDUR and, commencing April 1, 2010, Nycomed will have sole funding responsibility for all clinical trials intended for E.U. registration of OPTESIA (Nycomed's brand name for this drug candidate). The parties are not altering the final decision making authority and financial responsibility for the remainder of the development activities, such as the non-clinical and CMC activities, which will continue to be jointly managed and funded by DURECT and Nycomed. The amendment further expands the territories licensed to Nycomed to include China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Venezuela. DURECT retains full ownership of POSIDUR in the U.S., Canada, Japan and other territories not granted to Nycomed.

Viamet and Novartis Option Fund enter agreement for development of metalloenzyme inhibitors

February 22, 2010

Viamet will utilize its proprietary Metallophile Technology to discover and develop novel metalloenzyme inhibitors against a specific metalloenzyme of high interest to Novartis. The agreement includes an upfront fee and potential milestones totaling over $200 million as well as product royalties.

Joint research and option for license agreement between NasVax and Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics

February 22, 2010

The parties will jointly investigate the feasibility of developing improved vaccines through incorporation of the Company's adjuvant technology (VaxiSomeTM), among which is an improved vaccine for Influenza (including Swine Flu). The Company also granted Novartis an option to acquire a non-exclusive license to use VaxiSome in connection with certain of Novartis' vaccines.

The parties will conduct joint research and in addition, the Company has granted Novartis an option to acquire a non-exclusive license to use the Company's adjuvant technology for the development of improved vaccines for certain indications in Novartis' existing vaccines portfolio (the "Option"). The Option will be exercisable for a period of up to 14 months after the Agreement's effective date and may be extended by Novartis requests under certain conditions. If exercised, a license will be granted to Novartis under such commercial terms as shall be agreed between the parties and that will include, among other things, milestone payments and royalties for the sales of vaccines marketed by Novartis that include the Company's technology.

Ark Therapeutics signs preferred supplier memorandum with Merck to manufacture adenoviral medicines

February 19, 2010

The appointment as preferred manufacturing supplier is subject to the signing of a binding detailed manufacturing agreement.

BG Medicine collaborates with Merck & Co on development of blood test related to lipid disorders

February 17, 2010

Merck has granted BG Medicine a semi-exclusive license to certain Merck intellectual property and technologies for use and development of a candidate in vitro diagnostic test in exchange for certain testing services, data sharing, and other considerations. BG Medicine is eligible for certain payments upon achievement of established milestones.

Roche Molecular Systems collaborates with Merck Sharp & Dohme on developmental test for cancer-related gene mutation investigational AmpliChip p53 test

February 17, 2010

Research collaboration with Merck Sharp & Dohme providing Merck access to Roche's developmental microarray-based AmpliChip p53 Test, which is designed to detect mutations in the tumor suppressor gene p53. By identifying cancers that harbor a dysfunctional p53 gene, the companies aim to achieve better treatment outcomes in cancer patients by determining which patients are most likely to respond to certain investigational therapeutic candidates.

Merck & Co returns rights to anti-fungal therapy to Anacor

February 12, 2010

Merck has returned full worldwide development and commercialization rights for AN2690 to Anacor. AN2690 is a topical anti-fungal therapy being developed for onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nail and nail bed.

Daiichi Sankyo to launch products in Mexico through Ranbaxy Laboratories

February 11, 2010

Additionally, the companies have agreed to promote prasugrel, an anti-platelet co-developed by Daiichi Sankyo and Eli Lilly and Company, in Mexico. Prasugrel will be co-promoted by Lilly's affiliate in Mexico.

Boehringer Ingelheim to acquire Japanese consumer-drug producer SSP

February 10, 2010

Boehringer Ingelheim is in talks to make Japanese subsidiary SSP Co Ltd wholly-owned in a deal worth more than 30 billion yen ($335 million). Boehringer currently owns 60 percent of SSP, a maker of over-the-counter drugs.

Debiopharm grants Novartis exclusive licence for development, manufacture and commercialisation of Debio 025

February 9, 2010

Novartis will pay Debiopharm an upfront, development and sales milestones as well as royalties. This transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Teva acquires marketing rights for oral Laquinimod in the Nordic and Baltic regions

February 8, 2010

Teva extended its marketing and distribution rights to include the Nordic and Baltic regions, previously held by Active Biotech. Active Biotech will receive a higher royalty rate for sales in these territories compared to the royalty rate set under the original licensing agreement signed in 2004 for sales in the rest of the world.

AnaptysBio in strategic collaboration with Merck

February 8, 2010

AnaptysBio will be responsible for generating novel antibodies to a specified disease target using its proprietary somatic hypermutation (SHM) technology platform. Merck will receive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize antibodies optimized by AnaptysBio. AnaptysBio has received an upfront sum and is eligible to receive milestone payments and royalties associated with the development and sale of any products derived from the collaboration.

Pfizer and DxS enter agreement to develop a companion diagnostic for brain tumor patients

February 5, 2010

Agreement to develop a companion diagnostic test kit for PF-04948568 (CDX-110), an immunotherapy vaccine in development for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Financial terms of the diagnostic agreement have not been disclosed.

GlaxoSmithKline signs $330 million deal with Apeiron Biologics

February 3, 2010

Under the deal, GSK will get exclusive rights to APN01, an experimental medicine in Phase I development for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Aspen Pharmacare in $1 million TB drugs deal with Eli Lilly

February 2, 2010

$1 million agreement with Eli Lilly to manufacture generic versions of the U.S. firm's tuberculosis medicines.

Abbott in cancer pact with Pierre Fabre

February 2, 2010

Exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Pierre Fabre SA to develop and commercialize h224G11, a pre-clinical monoclonal antibody identified at the Centre d'Immunologie Pierre Fabre (CIPF) in France and targeting the cMet receptor for the treatment of cancer. cMet protein plays a role in the progression of a range of solid tumors including, prostate, lung and gastric cancers and mediates resistance to chemotherapy. As part of the agreement, the companies also intend to collaborate on research to explore next-generation cMet antibodies.

Abbott will lead the development and commercialization of monoclonal antibodies targeting the cMet receptor. Pierre Fabre SA will receive an initial $25 million upfront payment and research funding to support further discovery efforts for two years. Additional terms of the agreement, including milestones and royalty payments, remain confidential.

NextGen to develop and validate protein biomarker assays for Takeda

February 2, 2010

The biomarker assays will be designed to target specific protein isoforms found in liver and muscle in multiple species, for use in preclinical studies, and will also be validated for use in clinical studies. NextGen Sciences’ Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) protein assay platform is ideal for studies of this kind, which involve multiple isoforms and multiple species.

Starpharma and Eli Lilly sign new drug delivery collaboration

February 1, 2010

New agreement with Eli Lilly under which Starpharma's dendrimer drug delivery technology will be applied to enhance compounds in Lilly's human pharmaceutical portfolio. The agreement relates to the delivery of certain human pharmaceuticals, and is separate and additional to the contract signed in May 2009 in which it was agreed that Starpharma and Elanco (Lilly's animal health division) would work together to develop new animal health products with enhanced properties. The Elanco collaboration continues in its own right.

Cephalon to buy generic firm Mepha for $590 million

February 1, 2010

Cephalon will buy Mepha AG, the Swiss generic drugmaker owned by Germany's Merckle family, for about $590 million (622.5 million Swiss francs) to diversify its product line and expand internationally.

January 2010

Amgen and Stiefel in Enbrel promotion pact

January 28, 2010

The deal is limited to U.S. dermatologists and the partnership “has no impact” on another Amgen co-promotion agreement with Pfizer Inc., London-based Glaxo said in an e- mailed statement today. Amgen and Pfizer market Enbrel in North America, and Pfizer sells Enbrel outside of the region.

Imperial Innovations licences meningjitis B vaccine to Novartis

January 27, 2010

Novartis has been granted a worldwide, exclusive licence to the intellectual property (IP) for a novel vaccine candidate against Meningitis B. Innovations has received an upfront payment and is entitled to ongoing IP licence fees, success based milestones and royalties on product sales. Further financial terms are not disclosed.

Fluidigm and Bayer CropScience enter global agreeement for marker-assisted breeding and quality control

January 27, 2010

Bayer CropScience will be using Fluidigm technology to conduct marker-assisted breeding, genetic analysis in its molecular breeding program and quality control on its vegetable seeds.

Envoy Therapeutics enters diabetes and obesity collaboration with Merck & Co

January 26, 2010

Envoy will use its proprietary bacTRAP® technology to identify proteins expressed specifically in certain cell types. Merck will then work to identify and develop compounds that modulate protein targets with therapeutic potential for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Merck will pay Envoy an upfront fee and research funding. In addition, Envoy is eligible to receive payments upon achievement of certain milestones associated with development of drug candidates and royalties on any products derived from the collaboration.

Tripos licenses Benchware Discovery 360 to Pfizer

January 26, 2010

Pfizer will license to Tripos certain rights to its internally-developed discovery informatics system, RGate, and Tripos will extend capabilities within D360 to accommodate Pfizer’s unique requirements. D360 will provide a leading technology to Pfizer scientists, while leveraging investment in their legacy system to reduce cost and create a modern, best-of-breed platform for drug discovery and development.

Penwest in fourth R&D agreement with Otsuka

January 25, 2010

Penwest to develop a formulation of an undisclosed Otsuka compound utilizing Penwest's TIMERx drug delivery technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Penwest will receive undisclosed fees and payments.

Alize Pharma signs research collaboration and license option agreement With Eli Lilly

January 25, 2010

Lilly will pay an undisclosed upfront fee and both companies will collaborate on Alizé's AZP-01 project. In return, Lilly will be granted an exclusive option to license the program according to predefined terms. Other terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Pfizer selects ChemAxon's Markush platform

January 22, 2010

Agreement with Pfizer to provide its Markush searching and structure enumeration functionality for global development and deployment within Pfizer's global R&D facilities.

b3 bio in discovery collaboration with Roche

January 21, 2010

Roche will have certain rights for further development and/or commercialization of such technologies. As part of this agreement, Roche will increase its equity investment in b3 bio as well as providing development funds.

Almac Group to undertake evaluation FLEXYTE protein kinase assays for AstraZeneca

January 20, 2010

During the evaluation period AstraZeneca will assess the performance of the FLEXYTE™ platform in its laboratories against specific targets of interest.

Alcon to purchase ophthalmic pharmaceutical assets from Sirion Therapeutics

January 19, 2010

The two products purchased are Durezol, a marketed ophthalmic corticosteroid approved for the treatment of inflammation and pain associated with eye surgery, and Zirgan, a recently approved antiviral for the treatment of acute herpetic keratitis (corneal ulcers). In addition to these marketed products, Alcon also acquired the global rights, excluding Latin America, for Zyclorin. This product is currently in clinical development to treat dry eye and other ocular surface diseases.

Boehringer Ingelheim and Priaxon in collaboration to research and develop novel treatments for cancer

January 19, 2010

Boehringer Ingelheim will lead development and commercialisation of the potential mdm2/p53 inhibitor products to capitalise on its global marketing and sales expertise. Boehringer Ingelheim will pay significant up-front and near-term payments to Priaxon including research funding to support further discovery efforts. In addition, Priaxon will be eligible to receive from Boehringer Ingelheim EUR 86 million in milestone payments upon achievement of certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones as well as royalties on potential future net sales of products.

The companies will work jointly to identify and advance candidates into pre-clinical development. Thereafter, Boehringer Ingelheim will drive the development and commercialisation of the potential cancer treatments arising from the collaboration.

AstraZeneca and Dako in agreement to develop companion diagnostics for cancer treatments

January 19, 2010

Under the agreement, the companies will work together to develop diagnostic tests to help physicians determine the most appropriate cancer treatment for patients. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The collaboration will leverage Dako's position as a leader in cancer diagnostics and a strong partner in the development of diagnostic tests used in conjunction with drug therapies. AstraZeneca will bring its extensive experience in the development and commercialization of vital oncology products worldwide.

GenVec inks licensing deal with Novartis

January 19, 2010

GenVec and Novartis will collaborate to discover and develop novel treatments for hearing loss and balance disorders. Preclinical results suggest that delivery of the atonal gene using GenVec's innovative adenovector technology may have the potential to restore hearing and balance function.

Under terms of the agreement, GenVec is licensing the world-wide rights to its preclinical hearing loss and balance disorders program to Novartis. GenVec will receive a $5 million upfront payment and Novartis has purchased $2 million in GenVec common stock. In addition, GenVec will receive funding from Novartis for a research program focused on developing additional adenovectors for hearing loss. If certain clinical, regulatory and sales milestones are met, GenVec is eligible to receive up to $213.6 million, including upfront and milestone payments, in addition to royalties on future sales.

KINAXO Biotechnologies extends collaboration with Roche

January 14, 2010

Under the agreement KINAXO will apply its phosphoproteomics technology PhosphoScout® to support targeted treatment approaches currently under development at Roche. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Cellectis grants Bayer license to use homologous recombination patents

January 13, 2010

Bayer has acquired a license to use Cellectis’ patent family WO9011354 covering homologous recombination aimed to introduce new features into the genome. This global license includes the use of the Institut Pasteur technology relating to homologous recombination to obtain and utilize certain transgenic animals in pharmaceutical research, in all countries, including Japan. The terms of the contract have not been disclosed.

AstraZeneca and CrystalGenomics form research collaboration to develop anti-infective treatments

January 13, 2010

The goal of the collaboration is to generate optimized lead compounds against a pre-agreed bacterial target, furthering AstraZeneca's ability to progress novel targets in this important therapeutic area. To accomplish this, CrystalGenomics will use its structure-based drug discovery platform technology to optimise selected novel scaffolds from AstraZeneca's proprietary compound library against an antibacterial target which has been validated by AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca and CrystalGenomics will perform in-vitro enzyme and cell based assays, structure determination, medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetic studies, toxicology tests and pharmacological evaluations under this collaboration. AstraZeneca will be responsible for preclinical and clinical development and commercialisation.

MedGenesis Therapeutix in agreement with Amgen

January 12, 2010

Agreement with Amgen granting MedGenesis an exclusive, worldwide license for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor protein in CNS and non-CNS indications, subject to the rights of a co-exclusive licensee for CNS indications in certain countries, as further described below. As part of the license agreement, Amgen now holds a small equity stake in MedGenesis.

Proteus Biomedical in license and collaboration agreement with Novartis for sensor-based pharmaceuticals

January 12, 2010

Exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Novartis to develop and commercialize pharmaceutical products that incorporate Proteus’ novel sensor-based technologies in the field of organ transplantation. Novartis also receives certain option rights in cardiovascular and oncology product applications, as well as rights to use Proteus technologies in its clinical development of pharmaceutical products.

Trillium Therapeutics and Biogen Idec enter global license agreement

January 12, 2010

TTI will receive an upfront payment and is eligible to receive milestone payments based on achievements of specified clinical, regulatory and commercial accomplishments. TTI will also receive royalties on global product sales. No other financial terms were disclosed. Biogen Idec will be solely responsible for clinical development, regulatory approvals, manufacturing and commercialization.

Sanofi-Aventis commences tender offer for Chattem

January 11, 2010

The transaction is a significant milestone in sanofi-aventis' transformational strategy.

AnaptysBio in agreement with Roche to develop novel antibodies

January 11, 2010

AnaptysBio will be responsible for generating novel antibodies using its proprietary somatic hypermutation (SHM) platform. Roche will receive a worldwide license to develop and commercialize antibodies optimized by AnaptysBio. In addition to a signing fee paid by Roche, AnaptysBio will be eligible to receive milestone payments and royalties upon product sales.

KaloBios partners with Sanofi Pasteur on novel prevention and treatment for Pseudomonas aeruginosa

January 11, 2010

KaloBios will receive an upfront payment of $35 million from Sanofi Pasteur, plus development, regulatory and commercial milestones for a potential further $255 million, as well as royalties on eventual product sales. Sanofi Pasteur also has the option to acquire commercial rights to KaloBios’ indications for KB001 outside the United States and co-promotion rights in the United States.

GlaxoSmithKline in Traficet-EN licensing deal with ChemoCentryx

January 11, 2010

ChemoCentryx will receive an option exercise fee of $35 million and may be eligible for further regulatory milestone payments. Following successful development and commercialization of any of the candidate compounds, ChemoCentryx will also receive double-digit royalties on product sales with the ability to increase royalties by co-funding development through Phase III clinical trials and co-promoting to physician specialists in North America. GSK will now assume responsibility for the continued development of CCX282-B in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease. Potential ulcerative colitis studies will also be considered for this product candidate.

BioMimetic strengthens agreement with Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics for exclusive supply of rhPDGF-BB

January 7, 2010

Under the revised agreement, the contract was extended by three years with successive three year evergreen extension periods. Further, either company must give a six month termination notice in any extension period if they wish to discontinue the agreement for any reason. In the event that Novartis terminates the agreement, or if BioMimetic terminates the agreement for cause, Novartis is required to support technology transfer by providing to a new manufacturer all Novartis technology and supporting documentation necessary to produce bulk rhPDGF-BB and to supply BioMimetic sufficient bulk rhPDGF-BB to fulfill its needs during the technology transfer process. Finally, the companies reduced certain minimum purchase obligations through 2011, by which time the parties anticipate that BioMimetic’s Augment will be FDA approved for orthopedic applications.

Clinical candidate from PKB/AKT collaboration with Astex Therapeutics selected by AstraZeneca

January 7, 2010

AstraZeneca’s collaboration with Astex on the drug discovery programme began in 2005. The selection of a promising clinical candidate triggers a significant milestone payment and Astex, the ICR and CRT are eligible to receive further milestones and royalties during clinical development and commercialisation of the candidate. AstraZeneca will be responsible for progressing the clinical candidate through clinical development and into the market.

AstraZeneca in deal with Teva for Nexium

January 7, 2010

Under the terms of the omeprazole agreement, Teva will obtain a release for all past sales of its generic omeprazole and will continue to market its product in the U.S. and will make a one-time payment to AstraZeneca. As part of the esomeprazole agreement, AstraZeneca has granted Teva a license, subject to regulatory approval, to enter the U.S. market with its generic esomeprazole delayed-release capsules on May 27, 2014, or earlier in certain circumstances.

Pfizer and Debiopharm collaborate to co-develop Tremelimumab in advanced melanoma

January 7, 2010

A co-development agreement to conduct a Phase 3 trial of tremelimumab (CP675,206), a fully human anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of patients with unresectable, Stage IV melanoma. A biomarker will be used to select patients considered likely to respond to tremelimumab. Debiopharm will assume responsibility for conducting the phase 3 trial of tremelimumab and Pfizer will retain responsibility for worldwide commercialization of the compound.

Ensemble Discovery initiates collaboration with Pfizer to develop novel drugs against protein-protein interaction targets

January 6, 2010

The collaboration will deploy Ensemble’s proprietary drug discovery platforms and EnsemblinTM compound libraries to discover and advance drug candidates. Pfizer will provide upfront and research payments to Ensemble and will have the right to develop and commercialize any products arising from the collaboration. In addition, Ensemble will receive development milestones plus royalties based on worldwide sales of any drugs emerging from the alliance and commercialized by Pfizer.

The goal of the alliance is to develop Ensemblins against important therapeutic targets, particularly those involving protein-protein interactions. Ensemblins are a new class of oral drugs developed by Ensemble to address disease targets that cannot be modulated effectively by traditional small molecule pharmaceuticals.

Pfizer expands generics business with Strides Arcolab Limited deal

January 6, 2010

Pfizer expands generics business with Strides Arcolab Limited deal.

BioVectra in partnership with Sandoz to market Docetaxel in the USA

January 5, 2010

The company has reached commercial marketing and supply agreements with Sandoz Inc (a division of Novartis) to extend specific marketing rights within the U.S. for the drug to Sandoz.

Genzyme outsources manufacturing processes to Hospira

January 5, 2010

The agreement comes as Genzyme wrestles with manufacturing constraints that have led to shortages of two of its biggest-selling products.

TCG Life signs pact with Pfizer

January 5, 2009

The agreement would encompass developing compounds required for drug discovery.

Novartis seeks to buy rest of Alcon Laboratories for $39 billion

January 4, 2010

Exercised its option to purchase the remaining shares in Alcon, Inc. owned by Nestle S.A. at a weighted average price of US$180 per share in cash. The exercise is pursuant to an agreement between Nestle and Novartis that was executed on April 7, 2008. The option exercise is subject to regulatory approvals and covers approximately 156 million shares of Alcon held by Nestle, representing approximately 52 percent of Alcon’s outstanding shares. Upon consummation of the purchase, Novartis would own an approximate 77 percent interest in Alcon.

Dicerna in deal with Kyowa Hakko Kirin to develop RNAi cancer treatments

January 4, 2010

Dicerna will receive $4 million in upfront cash payments including research funding, and up to $120 million in additional research funding, development and commercial milestones for exclusive rights to one target in the field of oncology. According to the progress of the research collaboration, Kyowa Hakko Kirin and Dicerna may expand the scope of the collaboration by adding approximately up to 10 targets under similar terms and may broaden the therapeutic focus of the partnership. Dicerna is entitled to royalty payments on sales from products for these targets. Dicerna also has an option to equally co-promote and profit-share (50:50) in the United States for the initial target.

Evolva and Roche partner for novel cancer drugs

January 4, 2010

Roche will pay Evolva an up-front technology access fee and ongoing research fees to create anti-cancer and anti-infective compounds. Roche may also pay Evolva research and royalties.