Celgene Corp. made a leap forward in its pursuit to become the global leader in hematology cancer therapies through its proposed $640 million acquisition of smallish biotech Gloucester Pharmaceuticals Inc., whose histone deacetylase inhibitor Istodax (romidepsin) last month gained FDA approval as a therapy for previously treated patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). (BioWorld Today)

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration Wednesday approved the first 13 human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines eligible for use in government-funded research under new guidelines adopted in July. (BioWorld Today)