FDA approves Takeda's Velcade for subcutaneous delivery; NovaDel explores 'strategic alternatives';

> The FDA has approved subcutaneous delivery for Millennium/Takeda's blood cancer drug Velcade for all previously approved indications. Release

> Arrogene NanoTechnology raised $500,000 toward development of new diagnostic and therapeutic drugs based on a new family of nano-biopolymers. Release

> Drug developer Zogenix and research and development organization Battelle will work on expanding treatment options for Zogenix's DosePro technology, which uses compressed gas, rather than a needle injection, to deliver a liquid drug through the skin. Release

> New Jersey's NovaDel Pharma, which makes oral spray formulations of drugs already on the market, said it is continuing to explore "strategic alternatives" including the sale of some of its products, licensing rights or the company itself. Release

> Jerusalem-based Oramed Pharmaceuticals ($ORMP) has nailed down an Australian patent covering part of its tech involving the oral delivery of peptides. Oramed's core product is an oral insulin capsule. Release

> Ikaria obtained the FDA's orphan drug designation for its Inomax inhaled nitric oxide, in combination with the INOpulse DS drug delivery system, which is in development to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. Release

> An FDA advisory panel declined to recommend approval for progesterone vaginal gel 8% to reduce the chance of premature births in women with short uterine cervical length who are at their mid-trimester. Watson Pharmaceuticals ($WPI) and Columbia Laboratories ($CBRX) are developing the sustained-release drug. Release

And Finally... Carlos Serpa, CEO of new startup LaserLeap Technologies, won the 2012 Biophotonics Start-up Challenge at the Photonics West conference, with a pitch about a proprietary laser device designed to help deliver drugs through a patient's skin, according to Optics.org. Story