> Ventana Medical Systems and Roche have made nice over a confidentiality agreement, raising the prospects of a takeover. One analyst says that Ventana would likely fetch more than $87 a share. Report
> Rigel Pharmaceuticals will pocket a $3 million payment with the announcement that Merck Serono has exercised its option to add the Japanese territory to its current Aurora kinase collaboration that includes the lead product, R763/AS703569. Release
> ThromboGenics has launched pre-clinical trials on its cancer antibody VPAC. Report
> A team of researchers from the U.S. and Germany has found that community associated MRSA, a particularly virulent strain of staph infection, creates a peptide that causes immune cells to burst. Report
> Sanofi-Aventis just got slapped with a class-action lawsuit on behalf of an institutional investor over Acomplia's FDA rejection. Report
> A synthetic compound developed in the lab at UT Southwestern Medical Center mimics the cellular protein Smac, broadcasting a message to cancer cells that triggers their destruction. Report
> One foundation isn't please with a spoof of Glaxo's restless leg syndrome ad. Report
And Finally... Scientists at the Oregon National Primate Research Center are on the verge of announcing that they have developed a new technique for cloning embryos from adult monkeys. Report