COLLABORATIONS

Asterand Collaborates with Rubicon on Developing Tests
Asterand plc, Detroit, Mich., has signed a partnership with Rubicon Genomics Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich., to discover novel biomarkers for cancer diagnostic tests.
Full Article

Evotec and Roche Form Alliance to Discover Novel Drugs
Roche, Basel, Switzerland, and Evotec AG, Hamburg, Germany, formed a collaboration to identify inhibitors involved in the potential treatment of a range of diseases including central nervous system diseases.
Full Article

Archemix to Work with Elan on Aptamer Therapeutics
Archemix Corp., Cambridge, Mass., announced a multi-year, multi-product alliance with Elan Corp. plc, Dublin, Ireland, to discover, develop, and commercialize first-in-class aptamer therapeutics to treat autoimmune disease.
Full Article

Alfacell to Work with German Researchers on Anti-Cancer Therapies
Alfacell Corp., Bloomfield, N.J., announced a collaboration with the West German Cancer Center at the University of Duisburg-Essen to develop, characterize, and produce a novel fusion protein for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Full Article

Debiopharm and Aurigene to Develop Immuno-Oncology Compounds
The Debiopharm Group, Lausanne, Switzerland, specializing in oncology, and Aurigene Discovery Technologies Ltd., Bangalore, India, a discovery services company, signed an agreement to identify and develop compounds for two innovative immuno-oncology targets.
Full Article

Abbott and Dharmacon to Develop siRNA-based Therapeutics
Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill., and Dharmacon Inc., Lafayette, Colo., agreed to collaborate to develop new therapeutic agents based on a gene silencing technology of RNA interference for multiple therapeutic areas, initially focusing on oncology.
Full Article

Metabolex to Collaborate with Ortho-McNeil on Metabolic Diseases
Metabolex Inc., Hayward, Calif., entered into a global strategic agreement with Ortho-McNeil, Inc., Raritan, N.J., to collaborate on the development and commercialization of multiple programs addressing metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia.
Full Article

ACQUISITIONS

Haemonetics to Acquire Arryx
Haemonetics Corp., Braintree, Mass., agreed to acquire all the outstanding shares of Arryx Inc., Chicago, which it does not already own. The two companies had been collaborating since 2004 on proprietary blood separation and processing.
Full Article

Pelican Life Sciences Announces Three Acquisitions
Pelican Life Sciences, Huntersville, N.C., has completed acquisitions of Continental Laboratory Products Inc., San Diego, PGC Scientifics Corp., Frederick, Md., and Kemp Biotechnologies Inc., also in Frederick, Maryland.
Full Article

MERGERS

Athenagen and Zapaq to Merge
Athenagen, Inc., South San Francisco, and Zapaq Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla., signed a letter of intent to merge. Both have leading programs focused on neurological diseases.
Full Article

Pathwork Diagnostics Formed from Merger
Predicant Biosciences, South San Francisco, acquired Pathwork Informatics, San Jose, Calif., forming Pathwork Diagnostics, which will develop and commercialize innovative genomic diagnostic tests for oncology.
Full Article