> Australia's Bionomics is buying Melbourne-based Iliad for $9 million in stock and a potential $3 million milestone payday for the successful development of one of its drugs. Bionomics has been developing treatments for diseases of the central nervous system and cancer. The deal is intended to help beef up its pipeline to Bionomics' goal of having two Phase II products and five preclinical programs by 2008. Story
> Germany's Merck says it will move its research activities in Aberdeen, Scotland to its R&D facility near Boston. Eighteen employees in Scotland will be affected by the relocation. Release
> Genomic Solutions made big news yesterday, but it turned out to be five years old. The biotech, now a subsidiary of Harvard Bioscience, says it erroneously reissued its 2000 IPO plans to raise $100 million. The reissue sparked a series of news reports that the company was going public. Story
> The FDA has issued an approvable letter for Alcon's Retaane 15 mg, a treatment for patients with wet, age-related macular degeneration. Release
> Three Rivers Pharmaceuticals of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, has acquired the global rights to Amphotec from InterMune. Release
> The Hartford Courant looks at Celgene's successful efforts at expanding beyond Thalidomide with new products nearing approval. Article
> Wyeth Pharmaceuticals plans to file six new drug applications with the FDA over the next 18 months. Wyeth R&D chief Robert R. Ruffolo Jr. is getting much of the credit. Article
> Canada's YM Biosciences says it has achieved its primary objective in a proof-of-concept study of Norelin. Release
And Finally... Lawmakers in Texas have been scrambling to stop registered sex offenders from obtaining Viagra through state Medicaid programs. Story