As scares of an avian flu pandemic circulate following recent cases in Southeast Asia and parts of Europe, the U.S. government has awarded a $62.5 million vaccine contract to Chiron Corp. (BioWorld Today)

Nearly three months after raising $135 million to move its lead blood-clotting agent into a pivotal study, ZymoGenetics Inc. started the Phase III trial of recombinant human Thrombin (rhThrombin) in surgery patients. (BioWorld Today)

Ending a 2-year-old dispute, Cambridge Antibody Technology plc and Abbott Laboratories reached an agreement concerning Humira royalties payable to CAT under a 1995 deal. (BioWorld Today)

A preclinical program focused on Aurora kinase inhibitors brought Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc. its fifth oncology deal, this one signed with Serono SA and worth up to $160 million. (BioWorld Today)

For the second time this year, an international drug company is showing a strong interest in Syntonix Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s Synfusion and Transceptor technologies - this time to the tune of up to $63 million. (BioWorld Today)