RNAi on target

Drug maker Novartis has bought a major stake in Alnylam Pharmaceuticals — one of a clutch of companies that are pioneering the use of RNA interference in medicine. The biotechnology company, which is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will initially receive $57 million from Novartis for about 20% of its stock, and the two companies will pursue a research collaboration that could provide up to $650 million more to support Alnylam if its products achieve commercial success. RNA interference uses snippets of recombinant DNA to switch off disease-causing genes.

PCR spat broadens out

Applied Biosystems, a manufacturer of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines for genetic sequencing, says it has won a court injunction to prohibit a rival from selling or maintaining similar equipment. The injunction from a court in New Haven, Connecticut, stops MJ Research and its parent, Bio-Rad, from making, selling or producing thermal cycler products for PCR machines. California-based Bio-Rad issued a statement saying that it thought it had agreed otherwise with Applied Biosystems, and that it is “dismayed” at the injunction.

Cash injection

GlaxoSmithKline is to buy ID Biomedical, the Canadian vaccine manufacturer, for $1.4 billion. Both companies supply flu vaccines, and the deal seems to reflect growing commercial interest in vaccine manufacture. In a related development last week, Chiron's independent directors rejected a $4.5 billion bid from Novartis to buy full control of the California-based vaccine maker, in which it already holds a large minority stake.