Amgen Inc.'s 24 percent increase in income in the third quarter was not enough to counter investors concerns Thursday about a second complete response letter for Prolia (denosumab) and new data suggesting there were higher rates of cancer deaths in chronic kidney disease patients administered the firm's erythropoiesis stimulating agent Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa). (BioWorld Today)

Privately held Wellstat Therapeutics Corp. stands to gain up to $350 million, including an undisclosed up-front payment, in exchange for global rights to its Type II diabetes oral insulin sensitizer PN2034 and related compounds in a development and commercialization deal with Sanofi-Aventis Group SA, which sought the licensing agreement to beef up its diabetes platform. (BioWorld Today)