Aposense raises $24M in IPO; BioSante shares jump on FDA action; Biotech execs form new contract research company;

@FierceBiotech: Merck trumpets a global research initiative to speed cancer drugs. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: These blanket "embargoed" releases from ASCO are getting completely out of hand. | Follow @JohnCFierce

Israel's Aposense says that it successfully raised $24 million from an IPO on the Tel Aviv exchange. Story

Shares of BioSante shot up nine percent this morning on word that the FDA had extended orphan drug status to the experimental cancer vaccine GVAX. Story

A group of execs from Avalon and CoGenesys--both of which were sold--have formed a new contract research company called Noble Life Sciences. Report

Genzyme has nominated former Amgen exec Dennis Fenton to its board. The move is part of a deal Genzyme made with Ralph Whitworth as it quarrels with Carl Icahn over the future of the company. Story

Denmark's Exiqon says that it has decided to shutter its wholly owned subsidiary Oncotech. Release

PolyMedix says that it has successfully completed a second Phase IB clinical safety and pilot efficacy study with PMX-60056, a small synthetic molecule designed to reverse heparin and low molecular weight heparin anticoagulants. PolyMedix release

And Finally.. New research at Queen Mary, University of London suggests that cockroaches share their local knowledge of the best food sources and follow 'recommendations' from others. Report