Actavis faces nine Digitek suits; N.J. court tosses out hormone case

> Actavis, the maker of recalled heart drug Digitek, faces at least nine federal lawsuits [1] alleging the drug was dangerous and defective, including one suit over a patient who died while taking the drug. Report [2]

> A New Jersey state court judge granted summary judgment against the claims made by a woman who alleged that Wyeth’s Prempro and Premarin, and Pfizer’s Provera, caused her breast cancer. Report [3]

> Bayer, which withdrew [4] the controversial cholesterol med Baycol seven years ago after it was linked to a severe muscle weakness that caused 31 deaths, has agreed to pay $18.5 million to settle shareholder litigation. Report
[5]

> Healthcare logistics firm Movianto GmbH and Identif, a specialist in the area of bio and nanotechnology, have created an anti-counterfeiting system that uses DNA coding to track distribution of the drug from the manufacturer to the patient. Report [6]

> Amgen erroneously announced Monday that the Food and Drug Administration approved its Nplate treatment for a rare type of blood-platelet deficiency condition; the drug is still under review till July 23. Report [7]

> Botox maker Allergan said Monday it completed the $150 million purchase of acne treatment gel Aczone from QLT USA Inc. Report [8]

> A new survey of New Jersey's biotech industry has found that the drug development business is growing steadily. Report [9]

> Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have launched a nanotech company--called PixelEXX Systems--which intends to advance the use of nanoarrays in drug research. Report [10]

> Richard Selden, the former CEO of Transkaryotic Therapies, has agreed to pay more than $1.1 million to settle claims he misled investors and improperly pumped up the value of the company's stock by inflating the potential of Replagal. Report [11]

> Shares of Pharming spiked 24 percent on the news that fresh data demonstrated that its lead therapy Rhucin--developed in genetically modified rabbits as a therapy for hereditary angioedema--proved safe and effective in patients involved in ongoing open-label studies. Report [12]

And Finally... The late Dr. Michael DeBakey's longevity drug? Work. Report [13]