Merck-Schering deal wins E.U. nod; Pfizer moves 50 vet jobs to Kalamazoo;

> Merck's $41.1 billion takeover of rival Schering-Plough won approval from European Union antitrust regulators. Report [1]

> Pfizer's buyout of Wyeth will bring Kalamazoo, Mich., 50 new jobs as the company consolidates its animal health operations. Report [2]

> Grappling with low supplies of swine flu vaccines, Mexican President Felipe Calderon persuaded drugmakers to sell him 30 million doses, while 1,000 Mexicans lined up for an experimental vaccine they hope can speed up supplies. Report [3]

> New York State backed away from a health regulation that would have compelled hundreds of thousands of health care workers and hospital volunteers to be vaccinated for seasonal and swine flu. Report [4]

> Dr. Reddy's Laboratories said second-quarter profit more than doubled as sales in the U.S. and Russia gained and as currency fluctuations worked in the company's favor. Report [5]

> Boehringer Ingelheim won the backing of European drug regulators to sell the Micardis heart drug. Report [6]

> Long-acting insulin works better than other types of injections for people who need more than pills for their type 2 diabetes, researchers found. Report [7]

Biotech News

> Potentia Pharmaceuticals has signed a licensing and purchase agreement with eye drug company Alcon. Alcon gets a license to develop Potentia's leading drug candidate, POT-4, for the treatment of AMD. Report [8]

> Just how did the Senate come to support BIO's proposed 12 years of biologic exclusivity at a time when there's more pressure than ever to move to cheaper generic drugs? The answer is simple: lobbyists. Report [9]

> Over the next several years, Eli Lilly will be facing generic competition for the antipsychotic Zyprexa, antidepressant Cymbalta and other blockbuster drugs that account for a good portion of the company's sales. Articles [10]

> Novo Nordisk has unveiled a new set of data demonstrating that its Type 2 diabetes drug Victoza (liraglutide)--with its NDA still on hold at the FDA--is far more effective than Roche's Xenical in cutting weight and reducing blood pressure. Articles [11]

And Finally... Difficult-to-treat asthma often may have more to do with patients who do not take their medication as instructed than ineffective medication, according to researchers in Northern Ireland. Report [12]