Helix Biomedix of the US is shifting its focus from expanding its libraries of bioactive peptides and small molecules to "intensifying" efforts to commercialise them. As a result, the company's CSO Dr Timothy Falla is leaving his post.

Private biotechs have run into another complication in seeking venture financing as of late: the fact that so many public, and more mature, biotechs have fallen into VCs' price range.