Last week's agreement between Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Organon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. to end their co-promotion deal for the oral morphine product Avinza renewed chatter related to Ligand's takeover prospects - and talk already was active about other potential buyouts, as the pharma industry moves ever more aggressively to beef up its pipelines and capabilities. (BioWorld Financial Watch)

Almost exactly one year to the day after antisense firm AVI BioPharma Inc.'s stock shot up on news about its stem cell patents, positive preclinical findings against avian H5N1 influenza and human strains sent the company's shares on another skyward ride. (BioWorld Today)