Genzyme CEO: Sanofi proxy battle unlikely; Teva, APP Pharma partner on copycat Gemzar;

 @FiercePharma: Sanofi, BMS win 6 more months for Plavix. Report | Follow @FiercePharma

> A proxy battle for control of Genzyme is unlikely, given the progress being made in discussions with Sanofi-Aventis, CEO Henri Termeer said at the economic summit in Davos. Item | Report

> Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and a unit of Fresenius Kabi agreed to manufacture and market a generic version of Eli Lilly's chemo drug Gemzar, allowing Teva to take advantage of its 180-day exclusivity period. Story

> GlaxoSmithKline lost a Dutch patent case on its top-selling lung drug Advair, in the latest in a series of legal battles across Europe over the inhaled medicine. Item

> Lundbeck, the sole U.S. manufacturer of a sedative that Ohio plans to use to execute death row inmates--and that Oklahoma already uses to do so--said it opposes the practice and has asked both states to stop using the drug. News

> The U.K.'s cost-effectiveness watchdog has changed its mind about Bristol-Myers Squibb's and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals Abilify, deciding to recommend the drug as a schizophrenia treatment for young people. Article

> Amylin Pharmaceuticals reported a narrower net loss for the fourth quarter as lower costs--including the elimination of employee bonuses--helped offset weaker sales of Byetta, a diabetes drug it sells with Eli Lilly. News

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech:   Abbott chops 1,900 workers after experimental drugs flop. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: Promosome raises $4.1M in venture cash. working on "enhanced protein expression in...relevant bioproduction platforms." Story |  Follow @JohnCFierce

> Investigators discover a new approach to Alzheimer's. Article 

> CA stem cell agency counts rewards from $1.1B bonanza. News

> Philanthropist sets up new venture fund for CF. Report

> Ligand snaps up CyDex in $35.5M buyout. Story 

Vaccines News

> Report: Cholera vax helpful after outbreak. News

> Gates: Disease prevention most beneficial in developing countries. Story

> Northwest Biotherapeutics restarts DCVax trial enrollment. Item

> Merck plans copy of Rotateq in India. Article

> Generex unit expands AE37 study. Report

Manufacturing News

> Genzyme pays back $6M jobs incentive. News

> DHL gets CMO, Envirotainer nods. Item 

> Abbott jobs axe hits manufacturing. Article 

> Suspecting abuse-resistant Oxycontin, buyer kills dealer. Story 

> Mitsubishi Tanabe's 2M-unit recall follows QC lapse. Item 

> Ohio names replacement drug for executions. Report

And Finally... Allergan and Johnson & Johnson breast implants were linked in a U.S. review to a rare type of cancer, challenging again the safety of the decades-old products. Report