Pfizer aims to fix EU worries about Wyeth deal; Roche offers lower-cost Tamiflu for poor countries;

> Pfizer has offered remedies aimed at tackling concerns that its $68 billion planned takeover of rival Wyeth may be anti-competitive, the European Commission said on Tuesday. Report [1]

> Roche will stockpile Tamiflu at a reduced price for developing countries, ready for use if and when needed, the company said. Roche release [2]

> Astellas Pharma submitted test data on Flomax to FDA, hoping to win the right to extend exclusivity on the drug in the U.S. through until April; now its patent is scheduled to expire in October. Report [3]

> Teva Pharmaceutical Industries got the FDA nod for its version of the Johnson & Johnson contraceptive pill Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. Report [4]

> Patients who received a bioengineered protein sold by Medtronic or Stryker during spinal fusion procedures to correct neck pain had far more complications than patients who did not, a study showed. Report [5]

Biotech News

> Israel's Optimata and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries have teamed up to develop cancer drugs. The two say they will "efficiently rescue" failed advanced stage clinical trials. Report [6]

> South San Francisco-based Catalyst Biosciences and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals announced that the companies have entered into a worldwide collaboration valued at potentially more than $500M for the discovery, development and commercialization of recombinant Factor VIIa products for patients with hemophilia and other bleeding conditions. Report [7]

> San Francisco-based Hyperion Therapeutics has raised a whopping $60 million in a Series C financing round. New investors Bay City Capital and Panorama Capital co-led the financing, while existing investors Highland Capital Partners, NEA, and Sofinnova Ventures also participated. Report [8]

> Former Genentech CFO David Ebersman has found a new home as the first CFO of Facebook. The biotech veteran, who spent 15 years with Genentech, was promoted as the company's CFO in 2006. Report [9]

> Cell Genesys has put an end to its financial woes through a $38 million merger with BioSante. The two companies will merge in an all-stock deal; BioSante will be the surviving company. Report [10]

Manufacturing News

> The recent UPS supply chain survey, which found that 36 percent of pharmaceutical and biotech respondents say they are "highly concerned" about product tampering or counterfeiting--fourth place among choices provided--is likely due to the fact that the bulk of the problem still resides in under-developed countries, says Bill Hook, UPS VP for healthcare logistics global strategy. "It came in a little higher than I expected," he says. Report [11]

> As the first U.S. doses of government-contracted H1N1 swine flu vaccine were produced last week-via egg-less insect cell technology-the FDA reminds the public to be wary of Internet sites and other promotions for products that claim to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure the virus. Report [12]

> The decontamination of a Boston-area Genzyme plant due to a virus in a bioreactor will take longer than expected, the company says, extending the rationing of the two drugs made there. Report [13]

> Continued violations of good manufacturing practices have led to the seizure of 33 medications and drug ingredients at plants in Michigan, the FDA says. Report [14]

> A single-use benchtop bioreactor ready to use out of the box is expected to launch next month, according to Massachusetts manufacturer Millipore. The 3-liter CellReady Bioreactor is part of the company's Mobius line. Report [15]

And Finally... Buenos Aires, hit hard by the H1N1 "swine" flu, declared a health emergency and said it will add two weeks to school holidays in July. Report [16]