December Brings Two Things to Many Americans: Snow and Holidays.

For the biotech sector, December brought a blizzard of year end deals that resulted in nice gifts under the tree for many companies, investors, and let’s not forget – patients suffering from illnesses who will benefit from the infusion of research dollars.

AstraZeneca disclosed last week that it will pay at least $350 million–for Novexel, a French biotech company with a pipeline of therapies designed to target infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria in the hospital. That the bacteria are showing up outside of the hospital is the cause of opportunity for biotechs ready to conquer another serious medical problem.

Novartis has pledged $620 million to buy San Mateo, California-based Corthera, which is pursuing the heart drug Relaxin.

Athersys Inc. signed a deal with Pfizer Inc. worth $6 million upfront and up to $105 million if milestones are met for an experimental stem cell therapy.

And according to Dow Jones, Seattle Genetics Inc. (SGEN) will receive an upfront fee of $12 million and potential milestone payments of as much as $390 million under a collaboration agreement with GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK). Seattle Genetics is developing an antibody-drug conjugate, which are monoclonal antibodies that reduce some of the toxic impacts of chemotherapy treatments.

These deals are significant not only for the companies themselves, but for the sector which has taken a beating with venture capital shrinking and private deals coming to a screeching halt during the global economic meltdown.  Let’s hope the New Year brings continued opportunities to the biotech pioneers who are working so hard to heal, fuel, and feed the world.  For the people in need of answers, we can only hope the drumbeat of good news will continue.  A December to remember indeed.  Happy New Year to all.