Roche wants to up its Chugai stake to 59.9%; MedImmune and Genentech settle patent suit; and much more

> Roche is trying to boost its stake in Japanese partner Chugai Pharmaceutical to 59.9 percent from its current 50.1 percent, offering shareholders an 11.7 percent premium on the May 21 stock price. Report [1]

> MedImmune and Genentech have settled a patent lawsuit over a component of Synagis, MedImmune's best-selling drug, which is aimed at preventing respiratory infections in infants. Report [2]

> The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center has restricted drug reps to certain areas on campus and prohibited faculty, staff, and students from accepting gifts from drugmakers; logo-bearing pens, pads, and the like can't be publicly used, either. Report [3]

> FDA is asking Wyeth for more data on its osteoporosis drug candidate bazedoxifene; it's the agency's third "approvable" letter on the drug. Report [4]

> A new clot-prevention drug--Angiomax by Medicines Co.--is more effective than existing meds for use during angioplasty, reducing risk by a third, according to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine. Report [5]

> Indevus Pharmaceuticals has inked a license agreement giving Allergan marketing rights to an extended release form of its overactive bladder drug Sanctura in Canada. Report [6]

> Elan has announced the appointment of two new non-executive directors--Donal O'Connor and Patrick Kennedy--and the retirement of another, Laurence Crowley. Report [7]

> Uganda's Kampala Pharmaceutical is launching a diabetes drug to its domestic market. Report [8]

And Finally... A new study shows that hormone replacement therapy in pill form increases the risk of blood clots, but estrogen patches don't. Report [9]