Nothing's quite as dry as patent law, but many would make the argument that nothing's quite as important to biotechnology companies, either, as intellectual property in general and the legal protection thereof. (BioWorld Financial Watch)

These are the days of Amgen Inc. All eyes were on the biotechnology giant last week, when its $10.3 billion buyout of Immunex Corp. was completed although for less money than originally expected, it was still the largest deal in the industry thus far and as the deadline came for an FDA decision on Aranesp (darbepoetin alpha) in oncology. (BioWorld Financial Watch)