> The head of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), Dr. Kaiser Waheed, says interference by government officials who want to run agencies like the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan as their own offices is dissuading pharmaceutical manufacturers from expanding their businesses. Story
> Charles River Laboratories ($CRL) has paid $17 million to buy Delaware-based Accugenix, which offers microbial detection services to drug manufacturers. Story
> GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) has a $4.5 million contract with the Mexican subsidiary of Spar Group to do in-store merchandising, demonstrations and auditing at 6,700 locations throughout Mexico. Story
> Teva Pharmaceutical Industries ($TEVA) has gotten FDA approval to manufacture a biosimilar of Amgen's biologic drug Neupogen, which is used to boost white blood cells in cancer patients, when it goes off patent next year. Story
> Spectris, a U.K.-based manufacturer of industrial controls, reported higher earnings for its second quarter, helped in part by tighter drug manufacturing regulations in China, which boosted demand for its purity-testing systems. Story
> Brazilian drugmaker Germed Pharmaceuticals has voluntarily recalled one batch of the drug cyclosporine because of a quality problem. Story
> The FDA has issued new rules on how human blood can be stored and the testing of blood intended for further manufacturing. Story
And Finally... The FDA and federal law enforcement agents recovered $200,000 worth of counterfeits of Novartis' ($NVS) Fresh Look contact lenses in Puerto Rico, along with watches and bags with a street value of $18 million. Story