Biovail pays fine for kickbacks; Isentress gets EMEA approval; Thermo Fisher appoints new CEO;

> Biovail must pay $25 million in criminal and civil fines after the company pled guilty to charges that it paid doctors to prescribe it's blood pressure drug. Report [1]

> Merck' gained EMEA approval to market HIV drug Isentress to adult patients who are starting treatment for the first time. Merck release [2]

> With Dekker leaving the top spot at Thermo Fisher, the lab equipment maker has picked Marc Casper as the company's new president and CEO. Release [3]

> Protein Sciences has batted away an involuntary bankruptcy case brought by Emergent BioSolutions, which had been left jilted after an attempted merger failed to materialize. Protein Sciences, which has a contract to supply flu vaccines to the government, says a judge found that bankruptcy was not in the best interests of the company or its creditors. Report [4]

Biotech News

[5]

> One of Novartis' would-be blockbusters generated promising late-stage data as a therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Compared with a standard treatment option for COPD, QAB149 demonstrated improved lung function at 12 weeks and 26 weeks into treatment. Report [6]

> San Carlos, CA-based Alvine Pharmaceuticals raised $21.5 million in an extension of its Series A, garnering fresh funds to advance the development of a new treatment for celiac disease. Story [7]

> BioCryst Pharmaceuticals came out of the gate this morning touting new distribution deals for its closely-watched antiviral peramivir, but some analysts were doubtful that the developer had much new to offer investors. Report [8]

> Pieris AG claimed validation for its work on a new drug class along with $10 million in an upfront fee from Allergan as it forged a collaboration pact covering new therapies for ocular diseases. Report [9]

> In an ambitious bid to improve on Europe's position as a leader in the field of drug development, the European Commission and members of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations announced plans to inject $228 million into drug discovery efforts. Article [10]

Research News

> When mass public vaccination campaigns get started around the globe in the next few weeks, pregnant women will be given a preferential spot at the head of the line. And now researchers say that they have gained some insight into just why they're so vulnerable to swine flu. Report [5]

> Researchers have ID'd a master gene that turns blood stem cells into Natural Killer--or NK--immune cells. And their work points the way to new cancer therapies as well as a better understanding of the part these unique immune cells play in provoking multiple sclerosis, diabetes and other autoimmune ailments. Article [11]

> The generic diabetes drug metformin has proved to be a potent cancer weapon when combined with the standard chemotherapy doxorubicin, say researchers at Harvard Medical School. Report [12]

> San Diego-based NexBio has been highlighting promising animal and lab experiments that support a new approach to fighting the flu. Story [13]

> A start-up called LucCell is beginning clinical development work on molecular light switches, a genetic technology that promises to help the paralyzed breathe and gain bladder control. Report [14]

And Finally... The fear of swine flu is luring wealthy business travelers away from the major airlines to chartered flight operators. Report [15]