Archives for January 3, 2005

← 2005

$7m milestone rounds off good 2004 for RNAi firm

RNA interference specialist Alnylam Pharmaceuticals has made progress in its collaboration with US pharma major Merck & Co, with the latter making a $7 million milestone payment as a result.

Tripos to buy informatics specialist

Informatics company Tripos has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Optive Research, which develops software for computer-assisted molecular discovery.

Production started for IV drug compounder

ForHealth Technologies has started production of its flagship robotic intravenous drug compounding device through contract manufacturer Delphi Medical Systems.

Patheon completes Mova purchase

Contract manufacturing company Patheon has completed its $350m (€259m)acquisition of Puerto Rican rival Mova Pharmaceuticals, first announced in November.

Pharming buys out transgenics company

Pharming, a Dutch company specialising in the production of proteins from transgenic animals, has acquired an Australian company to shore up its patent position and technology portfolio in this area.

UCB hikes R&D budget for 2005

In the wake of its £1.53 billion acquisition of UK biotechnology company Celltech, Belgium's UCB has disclosed a near 60 per cent hike in R&D funding for 2005.

Whatman cuts staff post S&S merger

UK-based separations specialist Whatman has fleshed out its plans in the wake of the acquisition of Schleicher & Schuell, and says it plans to cut 13 per cent of its workforce after 2004 sales disappointed.

GE to buy Ionics for $1.1bn

GE Infrastructure, a business unit of General Electric, is to acquire US water purification and wastewater treatment company Ionics for around $1.1 billion (€813m), plus the assumption of debt.