Merck & Co. Inc. set in motion two definitive agreements to acquire privately held biotechnology companies GlycoFi Inc. and Abmaxis Inc., and $400 million for $80 million, respectively, and would pay cash for both. (BioWorld Today)

In addition to making a $25 million investment in Monogram Biosciences Inc., Pfizer Inc. agreed to globally license Monogram's HIV Co-Receptor Tropism Assay to aid in the clinical development of its CCR5 antagonist maraviroc. (BioWorld Today)

In an effort to augment its oncology pipeline, Biogen Idec Inc. signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire Conforma Therapeutics Corp. for $150 million at closing, plus up to $100 million in development milestone payments. (BioWorld Today)

Preclinical data from Vical Inc. gave strength to the theory that a universal vaccine could protect against several flu strains, including those feared to cause a deadly pandemic, and the company's stock was lifted by 30.7 percent. (BioWorld Today)

CardioKine Inc., just 2 years old, is ready to move its lead product, Lixivaptan, into Phase III trials, and it raised $50 million to do so. (BioWorld Today)