From most indications, the industry is on the march again after a solid 2003, and the coming year promises even more excitement - which means more competition, especially in key therapeutic areas.

On the heels of positive early Phase I/II data for bleeding control during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, Dyax Corp. said it has agreed to sell about 5.2 million shares for $7.93 each, raising about $41.4 million pursuant to a shelf registration. (BioWorld Today)

The winter solstice, once celebrated for its promise of steadily longer days, brought sunny news for Esperion Therapeutics Inc. this year in the form of a $1.3 billion buyout by Pfizer Inc. - at $35 per share, a 54 percent premium to the company's average closing share price during the previous 20 days. (BioWorld Today)

Influenza: It's the Italian word for "influence," derived from the Medieval Latin word "influential," which means "to flow into." In the old days, disease was believed to be caused by liquid emanating from stars. (BioWorld Financial Watch)

The contract research organization PPD Inc. is paying Eli Lilly and Co. $65 million in cash - about 37 percent of its available funds - for the patents related to dapoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor in late Phase III trials by Johnson & Johnson for premature ejaculation. (BioWorld Today)