FDA cites Glaxo prostate ad as 'misleading'; Astra gets FDA nod for Symbicort in COPD;

> A marketing campaign for a GlaxoSmithKline prostate drug has drawn fire from FDA, which calls the space-themed advertisement misleading. Report

> AstraZeneca won FDA approval for its asthma drug Symbicort as a maintenance treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Report

> Wyeth's Prevenar (Prevnar) vaccine against pneumococcal disease has been registered in Russia and is expected to be launched there later this year. Report

> Zuellig Pharma, the largest healthcare distributor in Singapore, on Monday unveiled its new $40 million facility, housing a new specialty division. Report

> The FDA has struck a blow to Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, saying it can't provide an approval for its sleep therapy Silenor without more data. Report

> Endo Pharmaceuticals returned the rights to a chronic pain patch to Durect as it licensed a new drug candidate from German drugmaker Grunenthal. Report

> While Genentech's board is still squabbling over the value of its shares, Roche has been steadily gathering the money it needs to complete a buyout. Report

> Unable to win over the board of director at CV Therapeutics, Japan's Astellas is taking its $16 a share bid straight to shareholders. And that could set the stage for a battle to oust CEO Louis Lange, whose board seat comes up for election at this year's annual meeting. Report

> Prostrakan won approval to market Abstral, a cancer pain drug, in France and Spain; launch is planned for later this year. Report

> A pill normally prescribed to help with infertility and menstrual disorders may also help treat alcoholism, a new study says. Report

> Children under 12 should not be given over-the-counter cough and cold medicines because they are ineffective and can be harmful, Britain's medicines regulator will warn. Report

> Acorda Therapeutics registered positive results from a late-stage trial of a new drug under review for approval to treat multiple sclerosis. Report

> In a bid to acquire a slate of experimental cancer and anti-inflammatory programs, Cephalon has launched a $207 million bid for Australia's Arana Therapeutics. And Frazer, PA-based Cephalon says that Arana's board will recommend the buyout to shareholders. Report

> Synta Pharmaceuticals has halted a Phase III melanoma drug trial after a greater number of people taking elesclomol died than those receiving standard care. The findings were so bad that the company also suspended other ongoing studies of the drug. Report

And Finally... Drug gangs are switching from selling cocaine to a fake version of a certain Pfizer drug, attracted by the lure of higher profit margins. Report