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The article discusses an alternative job for laid-off British chemists. As big pharmaceutical companies in Britain such as GlaxoSmith Kline, AstraZeneca, and Merck & Co. began laying off research and development personnel and shutting down research facilities, out-of-job chemists have a place to find work through the contract research organizations (CROs). CROs provide services to pharmaceutical industry clients ranging from structural biology to absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) studies.

Focuses on the status of the brain drain trend in Great Britain. Observation of the absence of major migration patterns from the chemical industry; Recognition of the selling points of Onyx Scientific to remain competitive in business; Price advantage of British over American firms; Strategy of Peakdale Molecular to compete with low-cost competition.

Reports on the acquisition of BOC Group of Great Britain by Air Products and Chemicals and Air Liquide. Price of the company; Division of the company between the two buyers; Considerations for anti-trust regulations.

The article reports on the move of AstraZeneca PLC of Great Britain to acquire MedImmune Inc. for about $ 15.6 billion, as a part of the firm's push into protein-based therapeutics. It was cited that MedImmune is a formidable presence in the biotechnology industry, with a revenue of $ 1.3 billion and earnings of $ 75 million in 2006. John Patterson, the company's Executive Director cites that the deal will increase the proportion of biologics in the firm's pipeline from 7 percent to 27 percent.

The article reports on the agreement signed by Hunstman Corp. on the sale of its Great Britain based petrochemical business to Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) for $700 million in cash. The decision of Hunstman to sell its business is a step of its previously announced plan to quit the commodity chemical business and focus on differentiated products. On the other hand, SABIC made the purchase to promote a globalization strategy and its role in the European chemical industry.