> In a reversal, Canadian regulators ordered provinces to pay for Lucentis, the Genentech macular degeneration drug that has come under fire for its high price tag. Report
> Among a slew of new stent studies presented to coincide with the American College of Cardiology meeting was one that showed drug-coated stents worked better than bare ones in heart-attack patients. Report
> Sun Pharmaceutical Industries announced it had launched Ethyol, its copycat form of Medimmune's treatment designed to minimize kidney damage from chemotherapy. Medimmune has sued Sun for patent infringement over the drug. Report
> ImClone systems appointed Kenneth Zuerblis as senior vice president and CFO; previously, Zuerblis had been CFO of Enzo Pharmaceuticals. Report
> Sinclair Pharma said its CEO Michale Flynn bought 4,000 shares, boosting his take to 10.2 percent of issued shares; CRO Jerry Randall bought 30,000 shares to increase his stake to .57 percent. Report
> Japan's Takeda has abandoned development of its once-promising cholesterol drug TAK-475. Report
> Further evidence of Texas' growing power in the biotech industry: the Austin Business Journal reports that in recent months, central Texas-based life science outfits have attracted about $500 million in VC. Report
> VaxGen and Raven Biotechnologies are backing out of their proposed merger after "stronger than anticipated opposition" from shareholders. Report
> During a conference call with investors yesterday, Cardiome's President and Chief Business Officer, Doug Janzen, had some interesting thoughts on the slow approval process at the FDA. Report
And Finally... What's the etiology of spring fever? Report