"We think, unquestionably, we're the leaders," said Van Miles, senior vice president of business development for Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc., talking last week about RNA interference.

Privately held pain drug firm EpiCept Corp. entered a deal to pay about $136 million in stock to take over Maxim Pharmaceuticals Inc., and the agreement is expected to close in the fourth quarter. (BioWorld Today)

The anti-staph field got potentially more complicated last week when a would-be challenge to research leader Inhibitex Inc. appeared on the horizon.