FDA questions Remoxy approval; NZ orders Astra to aid inquiry;

> An FDA memo Monday questioned whether Remoxy, a proposed controlled-release oxycodone pill by Pain Therapeutics and King Pharmaceuticals, is truly tamper-resistant. Report

> New Zealand's Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by AstraZeneca that it did not have to provide information to a Commerce Commission inquiry into the supply of a life-saving cardiovascular drug. Report

> Israel's Syneron reported a drop in net income to $2.2 million on revenues of $28.5 million for the third quarter. Release

> An Indiana woman has filed a lawsuit seeking damages from Pfizer after June floodwaters breached a containment pond on the company's property, sending polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, onto her property. Report

> Hungarian drugmaker Richter Gedeon cut its expected growth in the Russian market to zero from the 10 percent expected in August, but predicted 5 percent 2008 sales growth for the overall company. Report

> Hungary's Egis Pharmaceuticals says that it's expecting the pace of price cuts in its home market to continue to decrease and that it's looking for acquisitions in the region. Report

> Dutch biotechnology company Crucell reported its first quarterly profit, $15.86 million, compared with a $5 million-plus loss in the same quarter last year. Report

> Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health launched Nuflor Minidose, a new antibiotic formulation for the treatment and prevention of bacterial pneumonia. Report

> Pharmaceutical packaging company Compass Pharma Services announced it has redesigned its customer service organization and processes. Release

> Zydus Cadila said that the company acquired Etna Biotech, the wholly owned subsidiary of the Dutch biopharma company Crucell. Report

> Looking to cut costs and focus on fewer development programs, Exelixis announced that it is laying off 78 people--10 percent of its workforce. Report

> ArQule and Daiichi Sankyo have formed an R&D partnership with two separate agreements. Report

> GlaxoSmithKline and XenoPort have withdrawn their NDA for Solzira, a treatment for moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome. Report

> Amgen's top management touted the company's strategy and pipeline at a meeting of Amgen securities analysts and investors in New York City. Report

> California-based Xoma is restructuring its collaboration pact with Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics. Report

> The University of Liverpool and IOTA NanoSolutions have developed man-made nanoparticles that could increase the effectiveness of antibacterial treatments. Report

> Although the economy is clearly the priority for the new President-elect, Barack Obama's still growing team has indicated stem cell research is among the top issues Obama is likely to tackle once in office. Report

Emerging Drug Developer: OncoMed

And Finally... Not a single European country is adequately prepared for the threat of an influenza pandemic, a senior EU disease control official warned on Monday. Report