DEALS: Solvay, Merck Serono ink deals with Gene Logic


Solvay, Merck Serono ink deals with Gene Logic


DEALS

WHO

WITH

WHAT

SCOOP

Invus

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals

$550 investment

Lexicon will use the money to finance its 10 to 10 program, which has the goal of advancing 10 drug candidates into human clinical trials by 2010.

MGI Pharma

AkaRx

$255M deal

MGI Pharma has shelled out $45 million as a down payment for AkaRx's Phase II therapy for thrombocytopenia.

Pfizer

Xoma

$30M licensing pact

Pfizer has licensed Xoma's tech for screening and manufacturing antibody products for $30 million upfront and a schedule of royalties and milestones.

Merck Serono

Gene Logic

Development pact

The companies will seek alternative development paths for several Merck Serono drug candidates which have been discontinued or de-prioritized.

Solvay

Gene Logic

Development deal

Gene Logic will take a second look at drugs Solvay either discontinued or chose not to prioritize.

Abraxis BioScience

The Scripps Research Institute

Licensing agreement

Abraxis and Scripps have inked an exclusive licensing agreement for the worldwide development and commercialization of a novel epothilone therapeutic for the treatment of cancer.