Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) and Oncolys BioPharma Inc., a privately held biotechnology company based in Japan, have signed a definitive agreement under which Bristol-Myers Squibb will acquire exclusive worldwide rights to manufacture, develop and commercialize festinavir, a once-a-day, orally available nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) in Phase II development for HIV.

Genzyme Corporation (NASDAQ: GENZ) provided an extensive briefing on the market potential of alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis at an event for investors and analysts in New York. During the two-hour presentation, the company shared internal market research and independent, third-party analysis defining the unmet needs today in MS,

EpiTherapeutics and Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced a collaboration agreement to develop new anti-cancer drugs by making small-molecule inhibitors against selected epigenetic oncology targets. Under the terms of the agreement EpiTherapeutics receives an up-front payment and will receive funding of research activities at EpiTherapeutics.

Merck KGaA has signed a worldwide research and development agreement with sanofi-aventis U.S. Inc., under which its division Merck Serono and sanofi-aventis U.S. Inc. will collaboratively investigate novel experimental combinations of agents that could block specific pathways in cancer cells.

• In the European Union, Avastin confirmed as a valuable treatment option in combination with paclitaxel
• In the United States, the company will request a hearing to maintain Avastin as a treatment option for metastatic breast cancer

H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) today announced that it has signed agreements with Zenobia Therapeutics (Zenobia) and Vernalis plc (Vernalis) which will provide Lundbeck with access to know-how relevant for making inhibitors for Leucine-rich repeat kinases.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Parker Tennessee Corp., has extended the expiration date of its tender offer for all outstanding shares of common stock of King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: KG) for $14.25 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon and subject to any required withholding taxes.