Almost 15 months after halting a Phase I trial of RhuDex following the death of a trial volunteer in Edinburgh, Scotland, the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has lifted the clinical hold on the study. (BioWorld International)

Shares in Crucell N.V. dipped Monday despite the addition of almost €302 million (US$441 million) to its balance sheet, following a strategic research alliance with Johnson & Johnson, which is acquiring an 18 percent stake in the company. (BioWorld Today)

Pieris AG is getting an up-front payment of $10 million from Allergan Inc., as part of a licensing deal under which the latter firm will gain access to its anticalin technology in ophthalmology indications. (BioWorld International)

Underlining the current vogue for antibody-based technologies, Alcon Inc. is acquiring the ophthalmology business of ESBATech AG for $150 million in cash plus up to $439 million in potential milestones. (BioWorld International)