Science|Business

The European Research Council opened its doors on 1 January as Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker stepped into his new post of Secretary General.

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.

Cambridge Biostability, a developer of temperature-stable liquid vaccines, agreed a joint venture with Panacea Biotec of India.

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.

Liquavista BV, a fabless display manufacturing company, has raised €12 million in a first-round funding led by Amadeus Capital Partners and GIMV.

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.