For the second time since the summer, a Top-Ten pharma company with an established oncology franchise has enlisted the aid of a biotech to give it a leg up in the development and manufacturing of therapeutic antibodies. In July, Aventis SA announced its foray into the field, via a deal with ImmunoGen Inc. [See Deal](See "Aventis Antes Up in Antibodies," IN VIVO, Sept. 2003 Also see "Aventis Antes Up in Antibodies " - In Vivo, 1 September, 2003..) Now, AstraZeneca PLC is teaming up with human antibody producer Abgenix Inc. in a transaction of much larger scope. [See Deal]
Like Aventis, AstraZeneca over the past two years had done a strategic review of its oncology program and decided it...
