Quark Biotech Inc. paid an undisclosed sum for the microarray facilities and personnel of Incyte Genomics Inc., thereby beefing the former's profiling and chemical screening capabilities and completing another piece of the latter's restructuring.

During the 1960s, labels of any kind were abhorred by many for the way they so fixedly identified objects and people, limiting them to a static condition that idealistic New Agers whose cultural influence spread far in that era could hardly abide. (BioWorld Financial Watch)

You don't need much, but you better have some or else. The subject is enzymes, replacement therapy for which has been in the forefront in June, with big player Genzyme General Corp. and partner BioMarin Pharmaceuticals Inc. making headlines (good news), as well as competitor Oxford GlycoSciences plc (bad news). (BioWorld Financial Watch)

Almost a year after in-licensing the P-glycoprotein membrane inhibitor tariquidar from Xenova Group plc, QLT Inc. said it is starting two Phase III trials to explore the drug's use as an adjunct with first-line chemotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). (BioWorld Today)

The world found out Wednesday who's been wooing Paris-based Genset SA, and it turned out to be Serono SA, which made a cash offer to buy Genset for €107.4 million. (BioWorld Today)

StressGen Biotechnologies Corp. found a partner for its lead drug to treat the human papilloma virus, nailing down a deal worth up to $204 million in milestone payments with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., which includes a $5 million equity investment and an undisclosed up-front payment on signing the deal. (BioWorld Today)

Say "Festo" to a member of the general public and he's likely to think of pasta, red wine and merriment. Say it to almost any of the competing parties in biotechnology, though, and your listener is likely to groan louder than the victim of a bad pun. (BioWorld Financial Watch)