In the highest value deal yet seen for a preclinical pipeline, GlaxoSmithKline plc swooped on Domantis Ltd, paying £230 million cash for the six-year-old UK Medical Research Council spin out.
Galapagos NV is bolstering its ability to select drug targets and compounds by acquiring Inpharmatica Ltd in an all-share transaction that values the UK bioinformatics company at €12.5 million.
Anglo-Dutch antibody specialist PanGenetics BV has agreed a collaboration with Lay Line Genomics SpA of Rome, Italy, in the field of therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of pain.
Pharminox Ltd, a private oncology R&D company backed by IP Group, is to carry out joint research into novel small molecule chemotherapeutics with Schering-Plough.
A plan to build the science base in European countries that lag behind got under way with the award of the first round of grants to enable young researchers to relocate.