ALSO NOTED: Levaquin gets FDA thumbs up for UTIs; Angiotech settles patent fight with J&J subsidiary;

> Angiotech Pharmaceuticals says it's settling its patent battle with Conor Medsystems over the paclitaxel stent. Conor is a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary. Release [1]

> In preparation for its acquisition of Merck KGaA's generics drug business, Mylan Laboratories is getting its financial house in order by buying back two issues of notes. Release [2].

> MedPointe Pharmaceuticals got FDA approval for a new 250 mg strength of its muscle relaxant Soma, aka carisoprodol. Release [3]

> Cardinal Health warned investors that its pharmaceutical sales aren't growing as fast as overall revenues. The $86.9 billion company distributes drugs to retail pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. Report [4]

> A stock analyst lowered his price target on Forest Laboratories, but kept its rating at "outperform" on the strength of a court ruling that forced Teva Pharmaceuticals to back off of Forest's biggest revenue-producer, Lexapro. Report [5]

And Finally... What if almost every bit of research about health and risk and healing was bogus? That's what some critics of epidemiological studies contend. The charge was led by eminent statistician Stan Young, who claims studies are so often wrong that equally valid results could be had from a random-number generator. Report [6].