Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. got a double dose of good news Monday, signing a $1 billion-plus deal to co-develop obesity compounds with Japanese partner Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., and getting FDA approval for expanded use of diabetes drug Byetta as a first-line therapy. (BioWorld Today)

Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. is looking to partner its early stage compound for hepatic C virus (HCV), now that Swiss drugmaker Novartis Pharma AG has taken a pass on it. (BioWorld Today)