Medtronic subpoenaed on accused doc; FDA eyes Depakote effects on patients' kids;

> Medtronic said it received a subpoena from federal prosecutors about a former Army surgeon who is accused by the Army of fabricating data for a study of the company's bone-growth product. Report [1]

> The FDA recommended additional study of delayed development reported in children of mothers who took Abbott Laboratories' anti-seizure drug Depakote. Report [2]

> Experts on the H5N1 bird flu virus are divided on how to treat patients infected by the virus, which kills 60 percent of its victims; some recommend boosting antiviral dosage, while others advocate combination drug therapy. Report [3]

> Implanted defibrillators that resynchronize heartbeats slowed deterioration in patients with mild heart failure, in a large study that could boost demand for the Boston Scientific devices. Report [4]

> Schering-Plough declared a regular quarterly dividend of 6.5 cents per share, payable August 31. Report [5]

> The FDA rejected GlaxoSmithKline's application to approve an experimental drug for nausea and vomiting, saying more data is needed. Report [6]

> Intervet, an animal-health unit of Schering-Plough, got a conditional license for its vaccine against canine influenza virus, the first shot to prevent that infection. Intervet release [7]

> China Pharma obtained approval from that country's regulators to begin Phase I and Phase II trials of Rosuvastatin, a generic version of the cholesterol drug Crestor. Report [8]

> Actavis launched the generic prostate cancer treatment Finasteride in France Monday, the day Merck's patent on the branded version Proscar expired. Actavis release [9]

Manufacturing News

> No large pharmaceutical companies are ready with everything in place to meet upcoming serialization requirements, and less than half are either planning for or taking any action to prepare to meet requirements. So say respondents to a UPS survey. Report [10]

> ISPE is offering content from its conference held earlier this month. Some speakers were recorded and the content is accessible as downloadable webinars. Content was also delivered virtually via live webcasts and live online speaker presentations. Report [11]

> Polar Speed Distribution has selected 4S eLog software to optimize its management of temperature-controlled pharmaceutical distribution warehouses throughout the U.K.. Report [12]

> The mPedigree program aims to shore up the drug supply chain in sub-Saharan Africa in ten years. Report [13]

> With its manufacturing plant out of commission [14] being decontaminated, Genzyme has said the virus causing the contamination might have come from an unnamed vendor. Report [15]

Biotech News

> After nearly three decades of drug development work, AMAG Pharmaceuticals appears poised to gain an FDA approval for its first product. And a group of analysts have been providing the company with a solid thumb's up for its prospective success. Report [16]

> Struggling to survive, South San Francisco-based Cell Genesys has cut its staff to nine employees, relocated to temporary office space and brought in Lazard Freres & Co. to evaluate its strategic options. Report [17]

> LabCorp has struck a deal to buy Monogram Biosciences for $106.7 million, a deal that will give the company a new set of tools used in drug discovery work. The acquisition today also highlights LabCorp's rapid expansion as it continues on a buyout spree. Report [18]

> Vladimir Martin was "Doctor" Martin to the patients he treated in 17 clinical trials for a range of big pharma companies. But authorities say he never had a license to practice medicine in Florida, and now they have charged him with a felony. Report [19]

> GlaxoSmithKline has hammered out a new collaboration that will use technology from the UK's Chroma Therapeutics to identify four new drug programs for inflammatory disease. Glaxo is contributing to Chroma's $25 million Series D and will pay up to $1 billion in fees, milestones and options. Report [20]

And Finally... A shipment of nearly 9,000 Viagra tablets was confiscated during a routine check at a post office by customs officials near Malmö, Sweden, on suspicion of smuggling. Report [21]