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)

A little more than a year after Abraxane gained FDA approval as a treatment for breast cancer, its developer, Abraxis BioScience Inc., has signed a co-promotion agreement with AstraZeneca plc, essentially doubling the promotional investment of the product. (BioWorld Today)