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Most Clicked BIO SmartBrief Stories


1. Merck is shopping for biotech deals, CEO says

BIO SmartBrief | Nov 05, 2009

Merck & Co. is "actively looking" to partner with or acquire biotech companies valued at "single-digit" billions of dollars, although a takeover similar to its purchase of Schering-Plough is "off the table right now," CEO Richard Clark said. The drugmaker will first review the Merck-Schering pipeline before deciding on therapeutic areas in which to expand, Clark said. Wall Street Journal, The (11/05)


2. Quintiles, Eisai to co-develop cancer drugs

BIO SmartBrief | Nov 02, 2009

Quintiles Transnational and Eisai formed a partnership to develop six cancer drugs under Eisai's pipeline for an undisclosed amount. Quintiles' NovaQuest unit will co-fund 11 midstage trials of the experimental drugs. American City Business Journals (10/30)


3. Novartis to invest $1B in R&D in China, buy vaccine firm

BIO SmartBrief | Nov 04, 2009

Novartis plans to invest $1 billion in the next five years in research and development in China to take advantage of planned health care reform in the country. The Swiss drugmaker also is buying an 85% stake in Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-Pharmaceutical, a vaccine company, for $125 million. Google (11/03) Reuters (11/04)


4. Pfizer reportedly considers buying Protalix

BIO SmartBrief | Nov 03, 2009

Pfizer visited facilities of Israel's Protalix Biotherapeutics as part of talks to team up with or acquire the company, newspaper TheMarker reported. Protalix was not available for comment. Protalix recently reported a successful trial of its Gaucher disease drug Uplyso, which could compete with Genzyme's Cerezyme if approved. Forbes (11/02)


5. Genmab to sell U.S. plant, cut jobs

BIO SmartBrief | Nov 06, 2009

Genmab announced a restructuring plan that includes selling its U.S. production plant and laying off about 300 workers. The Danish biotech firm said it will not stop developing pipeline drugs but will "adopt a more flexible model based on contracts with vendors to address varying demand for clinical development work going forward." Wall Street Journal, The (11/05)


6. Drug-loaded nanoparticles zero in on tumors

BIO SmartBrief | Nov 04, 2009

Scientists at BIND Biosciences developed nanoparticles loaded with drugs that can effectively target tumors by staying in the bloodstream for more than a day. They hope the nanoparticles, which are coated with cancer-targeting proteins, can minimize side effects of chemotherapy. MIT Technology Review (11/04)


7. Merck finalizes $41 billion merger with Schering-Plough

BIO SmartBrief | Nov 04, 2009

Merck & Co. completed its $41 billion takeover of Schering-Plough, allowing the companies to begin operating as one entity today. The consolidation is expected to dramatically boost Merck's global expansion while bringing in a diverse pipeline of treatments, including those for cancer, women's health and infectious diseases. Google (11/03)


8. Molecules hold promise in treating macular degeneration

BIO SmartBrief | Nov 02, 2009

Acucela and Sirion Therapeutics are conducting clinical trials of compounds designed to slow the progression of macular degeneration. The molecules delay the buildup of toxic byproducts that appear to cause the disease by reducing sensitivity of the eyes to light. MIT Technology Review (11/02)


9. Lilly seeks investors to expand subsidiary's portfolio

BIO SmartBrief | Nov 04, 2009

Eli Lilly and Co. plans to increase funds and put more drug candidates into its subsidiary Chorus, a company executive said. The drugmaker is looking for financial backers rather than pharmaceutical partners to maintain its control over Chorus' early- and late-stage drug development, said Gino Santini, Lilly's senior vice president of corporate strategy and business development. Wall Street Journal, The (11/03)


10. Sanofi-Aventis eyes growth in vaccine business

BIO SmartBrief | Nov 02, 2009

Sanofi-Aventis intends to double its vaccine business in the next five years with the aid of its Asian operations and partnerships, CEO Chris Viehbacher told German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Viehbacher said Sanofi's vaccine unit will post an increase in sales of 15% to 16% if expansion plans push through. Reuters (10/31)




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