During the first half of 2008, Morphosys AG plans to set out the shape of its future drug development strategy, following its mega-scale antibody discovery and development deal with Novartis AG, which the company estimates will deliver $1 billion in cash over the next 10 years. (BioWorld International)

While the addition of Genentech's Avastin (bevacizumab) to the chemotherapy agent paclitaxel slowed the progression of tumors in women with metastatic breast cancer, it did not prolong the patients' overall survival and increased their risk of adverse events and death, drug regulators said. (BioWorld Today)

German biotech MorphoSys Inc., the latest firm to benefit from big pharma's burgeoning interest in antibodies, signed its, by far, largest deal to date, partnering with Novartis AG in a 10-year discovery and development alliance that could be worth more than $1 billion. (BioWorld Today)