New Chairman at Struggling Ariad Reassure Investors that a Sale Will Only be Made if the Deal is Right

Ariad Pharmaceuticals has been doing a lot in recent weeks to remind potential acquirers that it's ready and available for a merger. The question now, as values of biotech companies everywhere are at their lowest point in over a year, is whether the company can attract a bid that will satisfy shareholders.

The news started last month when Paris Panayiotopoulos, former president of Rockland-based EMD Serono, was named as the CEO of Cambridge-based Ariad(Nasdaq: ARIA).