Microbia Inc.'s potential $330 million deal - $70 million up front as a licensing fee - with Forest Laboratories Inc. for the Phase IIb gastrointestinal drug linaclotide could let the pair jump into the $500 million-plus market gap left earlier this year when Novartis AG pulled its compound for constipative irritable bowel syndrome, Zelnorm, off the shelves due to safety concerns. (BioWorld Today)