Nektar Therapeutics Inc. will end the year flush with cash, after entering a deal valued at $1.5 billion with AstraZeneca plc. to develop a late-stage bowel drug candidate and a preclinical pain product. (BioWorld Today)

Neurocrine Biosciences Inc. has secured a commitment from Kingsbridge Capital Ltd. to purchase shares in the company through a warrant-free equity financing that would provide up to $75 million over three years. (BioWorld Today)

Discovery Laboratories Inc. has not given up on its Surfaxin drug candidate for respiratory distress syndrome, signaling Friday that it would propose a limited clinical trial to gain FDA approval. (BioWorld Today)