The deal for Phase II adjunctive depression candidate TC-5214 with Targacept Inc. gives AstraZeneca plc backup if things go poorly for Seroquel-XR in the U.S. and leaves the biotech partner in an enviable cash position, though Wall Street mysteriously failed to rejoice over the second hookup between the two firms. (BioWorld Today)

Investors must wait until probably next year to find out exactly what the withdrawal of Abilify's European marketing application means for Targacept Inc.'s chances overseas with lead asset TC-5214 in adjunctive depression therapy. (BioWorld Today)

The deal step taken by Gleevec-experienced Novartis AG - probably Incyte Corp.'s most logical big-pharma partner outside the U.S. for its Phase III JAK1/2 inhibitor against myelofibrosis - may not have surprised many, but adding another, earlier-stage compound in the cMET inhibitor class made a nice bonus. (BioWorld Today)