BRISTOL, TN - King Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE:KG) and Alpharma Inc. (NYSE:ALO) have signed a definitive merger agreement under which King will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock of Alpharma for $37 per share in cash for a total equity value of approximately $1.6 billion. (more…)

Durham, NC– Argos Therapeutics today announced the closing of the second and final tranche of a $35.2 million Series C financing from a top-tier, international syndicate of new and existing investors. The first tranche was completed in April 2008. (more…)

EAST NORRITON, PA, November 19, 2008—Tengion Inc. a clinical stage regenerative medicine company focused on the development of neo-organs and neo-tissues, today announced that it has completed a second closing of its Series C financing, receiving a total of approximately $21 million in additional equity capital from the company’s existing institutional equity investor base along with new investor, Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. Tengion also announced today that Gary J. Kurtzman, M.D., Vice President and Managing Director of Safeguard Scientifics’ Life Sciences Group, has joined Tengion’s Board of Directors. (more…)

Atlanta, GA- Southeast BIO (SEBIO), a regional nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the growth of the Southeast’s life sciences industry, announced today the selection of four finalists in its second annual BIO/Plan Competition. The final four competitors are: Lestoni, Inc. (Virginia Commonwealth University); CardiacSolutions (Georgia Institute of Technology); ProNeurix (Emory University); and Cerene Biomedics, Inc. (Duke University). (more…)

CARY, NC - Cornerstone BioPharma Holdings Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing prescription medications for respiratory disorders, has completed its merger with Critical Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative products for respiratory and inflammatory diseases. (more…)