It was almost a year ago that Immunomedics Inc. began two pivotal Phase III studies of epratuzumab to treat systemic lupus erythematosus. It said Wednesday it had licensed exclusive worldwide rights to develop, market and sell the product for all autoimmune disease indications to UCB SA. (BioWorld Today)

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)