Biovail to shutter Dublin plant; Sanofi's German ops chief quitting;

> Another day, another Roche deal. The pharma giant announced yesterday ning that it is paying $189 million to buy Canada's Arius Research, a move that will help beef up its portfolio of experimental therapies for cancer and inflammation. Report

> Canadian pharmaceutical company Biovail is planning to close its plant in Dublin, Ireland, where it employs almost 50 people. Report

> The head of Sanofi-Aventis' German operations Heinz-Werner Meier will leave his post at the end of the year, Financial Times Deutschland reported. Report

> Bristol-Myers Squibb tapped Quentin Roach as senior vice president and chief procurement officer. Report

> Elan reported growing sales and narrowing losses in second-quarter results Thursday, citing momentum for its multiple sclerosis-fighting drug, Tysabri. Report

> Drug distributor AmerisourceBergen on Thursday posted a fiscal third-quarter loss of $108 million on a charge associated with the the sale of its struggling PMSI workers' compensation business. But adjusted earnings beat analyst estimates, and the company boosted its outlook for the year. Report

> There's a considerable amount of attention being focused on Exelixis' move to launch a late-stage study of XL184. Exelixis report

> The University of Oxford and Emergent BioSolutions have formed a joint venture--The Oxford-Emergent Tuberculosis Consortium--to further develop MVA85A, an experimental vaccine for the prevention of tuberculosis. Report

> The FDA has handed NexMed a non-approvable letter for its experimental topical therapy for ED. NexMed report

> Illumina has struck a $60 million deal to enhance its genetic sequencing technology with the acquisition of Avantome. Report

> Researchers are trying to find out why a vaccine for Alzheimer's would be able to eliminate the beta-amyloid plaque long considered responsible for the disease without actually curing the disease. Report

> Merck's decision to pump $300 million into an expansion of its Durham, NC vaccine facility is seen by analysts as part of a coordinated effort to solidify a leading role in a booming global vaccines market. Merck report

> A new cancer vaccine made from genetically engineered tobacco leaves has been found safe in a small, early-stage trial. Report

> Dynavax Technologies and Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics are teaming up on an effort to develop a new universal flu vaccine. report

And Finally... Botox-pushing brides get their attendants to the medi-spa on time. Report