Drug shortages prompt FDA push for disclosure; Chinese pharma apologizes for pollution;

@FiercePharma: UCB to pay $34M for off-label marketing. Article | Follow @FiercePharma

> U.S. regulators are urging drugmakers to provide advance warning of production problems as drug shortages continue to worsen. Article

> Harbin Pharmaceutical Group, one of China's biggest drug manufacturers, made a public apology on Saturday for the severe pollution caused by its Harbin factories. Story

> South Africa's new preferential procurement regulations are expected to give a boost to domestic drugmakers with local manufacturing over companies that import their products. Report

> Some relief groups such as Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam are urging the international vaccine agency to negotiate harder with drug companies for lower prices on vaccines to immunize the world's poor. Report

> Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain will contribute an extra £814 million ($1.3 billion) toward a vaccinations program aimed at preventing deaths from diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhea in the world's poorest countries. News

> As new mandatory-barcoding rules loom for Indian exporters, small drugmakers are urging the prime minister to postpone implementation to make sure that Indian companies don't lose business to China. Item

> Aurobindo Pharma got the FDA nod to manufacture and market its hypertension drug ramipril, a generic version of the King Pharmaceuticals drug Altace. Article

> FDA officials sought a permanent injuction against the Wisconsin firm accused of making and distributing medical products potentially tainted with life-threatening bacteria. Report

> The strong-smelling chemical formaldehyde causes cancer, while styrene, a second industrial chemical used worldwide in the manufacture of fiberglass and food containers, may cause cancer, the National Institutes of Health says. Story

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Obesity field gets boost with $6.2M round for Gelesis. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: So, let's see. Forest's big product is losing protection next year. Its CEO is fighting the feds and here comes Icahn. | Follow @JohnCFierce

> Vertex eyes hep C future as it inks $1.5B pact with Alios. Story

> Synageva snags troubled Trimeris, goes public in M&A deal. Report

> FDA provides conditional OK for GSK/Valeant's epilepsy drug. News

Biotech IT News

> PacBio fosters software community with 3rd-gen sequencer release. Article

> GenomeQuest taps former Roche exec to key post. Story

> Accelrys faces PerkinElmer in race to move labs from paper to pixel notebooks. Report

> PatientsLikeMe enhances recruitment for clinical trials via social network. Item

> Assay Depot lands $1.7M to take pharma research buying to the cloud. Report

Medical Device News

> GE to open new Israeli R&D center. Article

> MIT, UMass look to protect implantable devices from attack. Article

> Meridian tests detect toxins produced by E. coli strain plaguing Europe. Report

> ACT gets CE Mark for TEMPASURE system. Story

> Senators ask for IG investigation into PODs. Item

And Finally... Women with heart disease who down a few cups of coffee each day tend to live as long as those who avoid the beverage, according to a study. Report