Du Pont Pharmaceuticals Co is to take over the research and development facility of Aventis Pharma AG at Romainville, France, as part of a strategic alliance with Aventis in Europe. Du Pont will also acquire the marketing rights in Europe for several products and will take on responsibility for the staff at the R&D facility. Mr Kurt Landgraf (chairman, Du Pont Pharmaceuticals) said that the agreement was part of a progressive growth strategy which would see the company expand through organic growth and targeted alliances rather than a large merger.