With its staff whittled down to a handful of dealmakers, TorreyPines Therapeutics has hired on an investment banker to look at a possible sale of the company as it ponders its remaining options. TorreyPines hired Merriman Curhan Ford as its financial advisor. The company announced a third round of layoffs at the beginning of this month, reducing its payroll to the CEO, the CFO and the company attorney. Its auditors announced on March 27 that it had concerns about the developer's ability to survive after TorreyPines posted a $22.8 million loss for last year. TorreyPines release