Summer is for relaxing, but biotechnology companies like Avion Pharmaceuticals and investors like DRI Capital remain focused on licensing key programs or buying new revenue streams.

SciClone Pharmaceuticals has returned the North American rights to the anticancer drug RP101 to privately owned German oncology firm RESprotect which it obtained in 2007.

Acuvax has divested to an unnamed European company its 10% holding in the private German oncology firm RESprotect. The Australian venture retains an interest in RESprotect's lead project, RP101 (BVdU), which is being developed by SciClone Pharmaceuticals.

The dealmaking column is a survey of recent transactions, including strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions, and financings, in the life sciences industries. Deals are listed by the following industry sectors: in vitro diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and research/analytical instrumentation and reagents. All transactions are excerpted from Windhover's Strategic Transactions database, providing comprehensive transaction coverage from 1991 to the present.