Astrazeneca plc’s buyout of Amplimmune Inc. for $225 million up front could put the pipeline-strapped pharma giant high on the short list of leaders in combination immunotherapy, if the latter’s early stage candidates pan out, and the deal carries another $275 million in potential milestone payments. Read More

Nanotechnology is usually a great illustration of the old adage that as far as the media are concerned, there are two kinds of science stories: “Gee whiz” stories and “Oh crap” stories. Read More

LONDON – As the summer break comes to an end, the industry in the UK is bracing itself for the outcome of government deliberations on establishing a value-based pricing system for drugs, with the Bioindustry Association (BIA) warning that investment in biotech could be put at risk. Read More

SHANGHAI – Looking to lower costs and facilitate better health care outcomes, China is stepping up efforts to develop a regulatory framework and a market for biosimilars. Read More

SHANGHAI – An unexpectedly strong second quarter has boosted investor interest in little-known Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a Beijing-based vaccine maker listed on Nasdaq. Read More

• Athera Biotechnologies AB, of Stockholm, a Karolinska Development AB portfolio company, said it transferred rights to the recombinant Annexin A5 product to Medirista AB, also of Stockholm. Financial terms were not disclosed. Read More