@FiercePharma: Sandoz's manufacturing slowdown/shortage in Quebec prompts calls for new government powers. Forced production, for one. News | Follow @FiercePharma
> Bayer faces yet another cut-rate competitor to its cancer drug Nexavar in India: Cipla launched a version at a price of $130 per month, lower than the $175 price on Natco Pharma's knockoff. Item
> Canadian drug shortages triggered by problems at a Sandoz plant have touched off calls for new government powers that could prevent or alleviate scarcity. Report
> GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) appointed two women to join its board: Lynn Elsenhans, who has been CEO of the energy firm Sunoco; and Jing Ulrich, a J.P. Morgan managing director focused on global markets, particularly China. Release
> France's Ipsen Pharmaceuticals saw first-quarter revenues rise on strong demand for specialty drugs, including the anti-wrinkle injection Dysport. Article
> The British pharma association is backing Novartis' ($NVS) challenge to off-label use of the cancer drug Avastin in eye patients, which competes with the Swiss drugmaker's Lucentis treatment. Story
> Abbott Laboratories ($ABT) paired up with India's Biocon to develop nutrition products for the Indian market. News
> European pharma companies are strong enough financially to pursue acquisitions without endangering their debt ratings, Fitch said. Report
Biotech News:
@FierceBiotech: Crazy or creative? MIT finance whiz suggests a twist on R&D funding drought: Bankroll it with risky derivatives. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Merck KGaA had already dumped the 2055 pact it had with Idera on safety concerns. Now it flunks Phase II. Finished. Item | Follow @JohnCFierce
@RyanMFierce: Ironic and idiotic. A call for open access to clinical trials data in a journal article locked behind a pay wall. Article | Follow @RyanMFierce
@MarkHFierce: OTC cranberry capsule gains medical device status in Europe as a cure for bladder infections. A first, it seems. Release | Follow @MarkHFierce
> Pharma giants offer up drug candidates for $20M NIH collaboration. Report
> Pressure on premiums in M&A push biotech prices higher. News
> Idera's troubled TLR program founders in PhII cancer study. More
Medical Devices News
@FierceMedDev: DSM swoops in with $360M offer for Kensey Nash. News | Follow @FierceMedDev
> J&J buys first Chinese medical device company. Item
> Osprey makes successful landing on ASX. Article
> Covidien, GE Healthcare to blend patient monitoring system tech. Story
Pharma Manufacturing News
@EricPFierce: Genzyme says the FDA and EMA have signed off a second fill-finish operation for a couple of drugs at the upgraded plant in Ireland. Report | Follow @EricPFierce
> Hospira says temporary production glitch affecting propofol supplies. More
> Workers killed in another API plant explosion. News
> Genzyme's $150M plant upgrade starts to pay off. Article
> Merck expands packaging plant to take on more vaccines. Story
CRO News
> Abbott, Syngene to open first R&D nutrition center in India. Item
> Synexus grabs Osteomed as its interest in Poland grows. Story
> What did the top CRO CEOs earn last year? Article
> Parexel experiences huge revenue and backlog growth in Q3. More
Vaccines News
> 'Designer' lymph nodes could boost cancer vaccines. Story
> Japan OKs Sanofi's inactivated polio vaccine. News
> Mucosis nasal flu vaccine shows positive results in animals. Report
> Ampligen-FluMist nasal trial begins. Article
And Finally... The growing numbers of observational studies worry some scientists. Report