Anacor enters $160M acne pact; Orexigen cuts 40 percent of staff;

 @FiercePharma: FDA's no-criteria criteria for prosecuting execs. News | Follow @FiercePharma

> Anacor Pharmaceuticals has entered a potential $160 million deal with Medicis Pharmaceutical to develop a boron-based acne treatment. The deal includes a $7 million upfront payment and up to $153 million in milestone payments. Anacor is responsible for the early development and research. News

> After Contrave's FDA rejection, Orexigen has announced it is reducing its workforce by 40 percent, or 23 jobs. Its stock price has plummeted 60 percent since the bad news was announced Feb. 1. Article

> Natco Pharma has filed a FDA abbrieviated new drug application for generic Tamiflu, and expects 180 days of marketing exclusivity upon approval. Report

> A doctor has alleged anew that Pfizer violated medical and ethical standards, appeared to have paid off foreign officials, and oversaw acts "which may have led to criminally negligent homicide" during Pfizer's 1996 drug trials on children with meningitis in Nigeria. Item 

> EMD Serono, the Massachusetts biopharmaceutical division Merck KGaA, has scheduled an official opening ceremony of a new $65 million research-and-development facility in Billerica that will initially create about 100 new jobs. Article

> The FDA has granted NeuralStem orphan drug status for its ALS (or Lou Gehrig's disease) stem cell therapy, which is currently in a Phase I clinical trial. NeuralStem release

> The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida has ruled that Watson Pharmaceuticals' generic versions of Mucinex, Mucinex D and Mucinex DM extended-release products do not infringe the '252 patent. Watson release

> Irish drug maker Covidien PLC said Thursday it received FDA approval for a generic version of Johnson & Johnson's Duragesic pain patch. News

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Investors ready to craft new biotechs out of Pfizer's discards. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Viehbacher says it's possible he could extend Genz talks past the 15th. Is he toying with us or did they hit a snag? |  Follow @JohnCFierce 

> Orexigen slashes staff as it ponders an uncertain future. News

> Did monkey wrench or due diligence delay the Sanofi-Genzyme deal? Report

> Idenix drops after FDA loosens one hold but slaps on another. Article

> Publicly-funded drug research spawned 153 new drugs. Story

Vaccines News

> WHO urges investigation into link between flu shots, narcolepsy. Article

> Study: Gardasil effective in boys, men. Item

> PATH to use Liquidia particle technology for malaria. Report

> Sanofi looks to NBA for vaccine advocates. Story

> Gates: Vaccine-autism link is "an absolute lie." News

Manufacturing News

> Ops uncertainty not just pharma's problem. News

> FDA exec litigation guide skirts transparency effort. Report

> FDA unapproved-drug campaign bites Lundbeck. Story

> Supply chain strategy enters the boardroom. Story

> GSK furthers pharma's greening. Item

> PHarmetics recalls pain relievers in Canada. Article

And Finally... Good news for tumeric fans: scientists have developed a molecule using curcumin, which is found in tumeric, that helps regenerate brain cells after a stroke. Article