Gilead Sciences Inc.'s HIV steamroller charged on, helped by strong sales of Atripla in the first quarter (though Truvada and Viread dipped) plus lowered expenses, and the firm bolstered its position in antibiotics with Phase III data on inhaled aztreonam lysine for cystic fibrosis patients with pulmonary Pseudomonas aeruginosa. (BioWorld Today)

Roche's loss became Novartis' gain - maybe - in the increasingly competitive cancer space occupied by vascular disrupting agents (VDAs), where Antisoma plc holds a strong position. (BioWorld Today)

Ophthalmics-targeted Sirion Therapeutics Inc. pulled down $45 million in a Series B financing to boost a pipeline led by ST-601, the Phase III emulsion acquired last year for inflamed eyes. (BioWorld Today)