> At least one worker was killed and others seriously injured in two separate pharmaceutical-plant explosions, one at Sirius India Ltd. in Hyderabad, India, and the other at Cordon PharmaChem in Little Island, Ireland. Report | Report
> Sanofi Pasteur announced a $192.5 million contract to provide 38.5 million doses of avian influenza vaccine to the U.S. government. Report
> Australia's drug watchdogs have received a petition to change the Roche antiviral Tamiflu to an over-the-counter drug so that patients can get it quickly enough to be effective. Report
> India's Lupin launched its urinary tract infection treatment Suprax in the U.S. Report
> Bayer got European approval to market its Zevalin lymphoma treatment as an add-on to first-line chemo; previously the drug was only approved as a second-line treatment. Report
> Apotex is suing the FDA for 156 more days of exclusivity on generic Plavix; the company launched its copycat version at risk in 2006, but was stopped by a preliminary injunction 23 days later. Report
> Glenmark Pharma posted fourth-quarter profits of 2.19 billion rupees, triple the same period a year ago. Report
> There's a big sigh of relief coming from Wyeth and Progenics as the FDA approved Relistor, a subcutaneous injection for opioid-induced constipation in patients with advanced illness who are receiving palliative care. Report
> Solvay has made a $278.2 million (€177.6 million) takeover bid for Belgium's Innogenetics. Report
> Another day, another big biotech deal. This time it's Japan's Astellas Pharma, which is paying $760 million for access to CoMentis's Alzheimer's drug. Report
> Which Massachusetts-based biotechs are ripe for buyouts. Report
And Finally... Would patients be better off if doctors stopped accepting insurance? Report