> Dendreon ($DNDN), which makes prostate cancer drug Provenge, is looking at how to make its manufacturing more efficient since the cost of producing the drug is a drag on earnings. Story
> Contract manufacturer Akela Pharma reported earning $800,000 in the last quarter compared with $3.5 million a year earlier. Item
> Biologics manufacturer Lonza has a new contract to manufacture products for Avalanche Biotechnologies, whose lead wet age-related macular degeneration gene therapy candidate AVA-101 started clinical trials last year. Item
> Fette Compacting has a new tableting center in Campinas, near São Paulo, Brazil. Item
> The pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts will pay a $2.75 million fine to settle charges that it didn't have adequate provisions in place at distribution centers to prevent employee theft of controlled substances. Story