> Zacks has upgraded its rating on Hospira ($HSP) to neutral, from underperform; "negatives associated with the quality control issues have been priced into the stock," it said, and "[w]e believe the company's top and bottom-lines will rebound once the ongoing manufacturing issues get resolved." Item
> The LAZORR alliance of Indian drugmakers--Lupin, Aurobindo, Zydus, Orchid, Ranbaxy and Dr. Reddy's--has so far shared efficiency-improvement tactics for power and water savings. News
> Baxter ($BAX) is taking a dive into the biosimilars pool with Momenta Pharmaceuticals. Story
> Lundbeck ($LUN:DC) says it "is no longer able" to manufacture Mebaral CIV mephobarbital tablets and remaining inventory will expire in March. FDA list
> Botox sales are giving Allergan ($AGN) a boost--the pharma giant expects to create 200 jobs over four years at its plant in Ireland. Report
> Pacira Pharmaceuticals ($PCRX) projects commercial-level availability this coming April for Exparel, its non-opioid postsurgical analgesic approved by the FDA in October. Release
> Indian inspectors will conduct a 10-day tour next month of four Chinese bulk drug suppliers. Story
> Merck's ($MRK) life sciences division EMD Millipore will serve on the faculty of the Centre for Pharmaceutical Information and Engineering Research at Peking University, China. News