GSK rehiring up to 50 at Tennessee plant; Bristol sets stock ratio for Mead Johnson spinoff;

> GlaxoSmithKline will rehire 40 to 50 employees at its Bristol, TN plant and put off plans to completely close it at the end of this month. Report [1]

> Bristol-Myers Squibb will offer 0.6313 shares of baby formula maker Mead Johnson Nutrition for each share of its stock in an offering that expires at midnight Thursday. Report [2]

> Faced with a surplus of H1N1 vaccine in some places, Massachusetts health authorities may decide to lift restrictions that limited vaccine to children and adults at greatest risk of complications. Report [3]

> Europe's leading healthcare companies have complained to Brussels about the non-payment of debts on drugs and other medical products they say total almost €7 billion by the Greek public health system. Report [4]

> Medicis Pharmaceutical says its board declared a quarterly cash dividend of 4 cents. Report [5]

> Aurobindo Pharma got the FDA's final nod for its version of the allergy drug Zyrtec in syrup form. Release [6]

> The World Health Organization plans to start shipping swine flu vaccine to Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and Mongolia in the next few weeks. Report [7]

Biotech News

> Eli Lilly has joined forces with the Indiana State Teachers Retirement Fund, a trio of universities and a non-profit, to launch a new, $58 million venture fund for the Hoosier State's life sciences start-ups. Report [8]

> Merck is buying the U.K.'s Avecia Biologics, a contract manufacturing company that specializes in microbial-derived biologics. Merck didn't outline the financial details, but it gets the company's process development and scale-up, manufacturing, quality and business support operations located in Billingham, U.K. Story [9]

> With a pair of big investors turning their noses up at Biogen Idec's $17.50 per share offer for Facet Biotech, Biogen's bid to buy up its development partner bit the dust at midnight. But Facet was quick to note that it would welcome a meatier bid for the company--from Biogen or anyone else interested in a deal. Report [10]

> With an impressive list of pharma partners by its side, solid backing by VC investors and a late-stage clinical trial underway in renal cell cancer, Aveo Pharmaceuticals says it's time to go public. Story [11]

Vaccine News

> With even the most vulnerable segments of their populations shrugging off the threat of swine flu, Germany and Spain want to hand back unused stockpiles of the H1N1 vaccine. And if other countries follow suit, big vaccine manufacturers could have a big bite taken out of their revenue. Story [12]

> Minnesota biotech start-up Syntiron has inked a $149 million licensing deal with Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi-Aventis. The partners plan to develop a vaccine against bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics, particularly Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Report [13]

> As millions of Americans shun the new swine flu vaccine [14] out of fear of potential safety issues, the Institute of Medicine is suggesting that the U.S. needs to create a permanent group devoted to getting out a coherent message to the public about the safety of vaccines. And the prestigious Institute also called for a national vaccine research strategy. Report [15]

> Sanofi-Aventis has been a big winner in the race to capitalize on the swine flu pandemic with a new vaccine, and today it tempted investors with plans to double its vaccine sales by 2013. Sanofi also echoed earlier remarks that it may turn to acquisitions to help bolster its vaccine business. Story [16]

And Finally... High levels of a hormone that controls appetite appear to be linked to a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, research suggests. Report [17]