Abraxis BioScience Inc., long rumored to be a take-out target, particularly after the January departure of CEO Lonnie Moulder, is being acquired by Celgene Corp. in a $2.9 billion cash and stock deal that gives the big biotech rights to Abraxis' nanoparticle albumin bound-based drug pipeline, including star cancer drug Abraxane. (BioWorld Today)
In the ongoing efforts to diversify its pipeline, Gilead Sciences Inc. offered up to $120 million for privately held kinase company CGI Pharmaceuticals Inc., a deal that offers some long-term growth potential though is unlikely to distract investors from much-anticipated late-stage data that could expand the firm's lucrative HIV franchise. (BioWorld Today)