Ahmedabad based Contract Research and Manufacturing Services (CRAMS) major Dishman Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Ltd has entered into a strategic alliance with California based biotechnology firm Codexis, Inc. that will allow Dishman to use of Codexis' proprietary enzymatic biocatalysis technology to manufacture intermediates and active pharmaceutical intermediates (APIs).

Aureus Pharma, a leading provider of knowledge management solutions to accelerate discovery and development in the life sciences industry, announced the extension of its agreement with sanofi-aventis for the licence of the DDI Predict 2009 Edition application.

According to a report, UK based Pharma company AstraZeneca PLC (ADR) (NYSE: AZN), and US based Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: RIGL) plan to develop a drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Medical research firm MDS Inc. is selling its Pharma Services Early Stage unit to two private equity firms for $45 million.