Boosting glycobiology

Glycobiology has seen its day as a high-profile platform technology. But as in the cases of Glycomed Inc., which disappeared into Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. (LGND, San Diego, Calif.) and Oxford GlycoSystems Ltd., now Oxford GlycoSciences plc (LSE:OGS, Abingdon, U.K.) which has transformed itself into a proteomics company, the platform generally has given way to other stories.

But last week's acquisition of Vascular Therapeutics Inc. by GlycoDesign Inc. is the first in a series of moves intended to create a glycobiology company that will again attract public equity investors...