> Japan approved AstraZeneca's inhaled drug Symbicort as a treatment for asthma in adults, opening up an important new market for the medicine. Report
> An FDA warning letter to Procter & Gamble regarding Vicks DayQuil Plus Vitamin C and Vicks Nyquil Plus Vitamin C was posted in error; no warning letter was issued. Report
> AstraZeneca must pay $14.7 million in compensation for overcharging Kentucky's Medicaid program, a jury ruled. Report
> Baxter International said it sees a lucrative new revenue source in vaccines and a multi-year opportunity in H1N1 swine flu vaccines. Report
> Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin promises to bar pharma reps from doctors' offices, one of the last open channels for companies to promote their prescription drugs in that country. Report
> Much to Abbott Labs' chagrin, the Florida Board of Pharmacy has decided to make a common thyroid medicine--branded as Synthroid--more readily available to patients as a generic. Report
> Mylan got the FDA nod for its version of Johnson & Johnson's epilepsy drug Topamax, and began shipping the product. Report
Biotech News
> Zombie biotechs have become the life of the Wall Street party. Report
> Congress is getting set to consider a bill that would help provide new funding for fledgling tech businesses, including biotech start-ups. Article
> Shares of Savient Pharmaceuticals (SVNT) were up as much as 5 percent today on rumors that Amgen is interested in acquiring the company. Report
> Switzerland's Cytos Biotechnology (CYTN) stock was punished on the news that it's anti-smoking vaccine failed to hit its primary endpoint in a Phase II trial. Report
And Finally... Animal rights activists showed up, at night, at the homes of executives associated with Bristol-Myers Squibb, Abbott Labs and Novartis over the last few days, screaming their messages through bullhorns in the street. Report