Impax throws down Oxycontin gauntlet; Pfizer's Lyrica gets boost in guidelines;

@FiercePharma: J&J agrees to pay $70M in corruption probe. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

> Impax Laboratories is challenging the patents on Purdue Pharma's painkiller Oxycontin as it seeks to sell a generic version of the drug. Report

> New guidelines suggest Pfizer's Lyrica for treating diabetes patients with nerve-pain symptoms, because it is the best-studied drug for the condition, among 13 underutilized treatments. Story

> A society for Canadian ob/gyns allowed contraceptive maker Bayer to write its prescribing guidelines for hormone-based birth control pills, and it failed to disclose that conflict of interest, according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Article

> Merck said the FDA has approved its drug to treat skin cancer in patients with node-positive melanoma following removal of the affected part. News

> A West Virginia man has been sentenced to more than 31 years in prison for kidnapping and robbing a medical supply delivery driver at gunpoint. Report

> The UK's General Medical Council has proposed, for the first time, that doctors may prescribe a cheaper off-label alternative to a licensed medicine, provided it is approved in authoritative clinical guidelines and is equally safe and effective. Item

> Indian firm Dr Reddy's has opened its new pharma services site in Cambridge, England. Story

> Chilean specialty branded generics manufacturer Corporacion Farmaceutica Recalcine, or CFR, will debut on the local stock exchange May 5. Report

> Astellas Pharma Europe, the European subsidiary of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma, announced the appointment of Ken Jones as its president and CEO. Item

> AstraZeneca announced that it purchased for cancellation 129,032 ordinary shares at a price of 2967 pence per share. News

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech:  Intercell shares nosedive as investigators slam brakes on patient recruitment. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: So Inspiration, now in Ireland scouting plants, recently raised its financing to $247 million. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

 > Teva's oral MS drug data disappoints the analysts. News 

> Outgoing Genzyme CEO Termeer hops on to AVEO board. Report 

> Exelixis spurs takeover rumors with Goldman ploy. Story

Biotech Research News

> WHO warns of impending drug-resistance crisis. Article 

> Dogs help humans narrow down lymphoma genes. Report 

> Alzheimer's mice at center of academic vs. property rights. Story 

> Two genes found for caffeine cravings. Item 

> Visionary scientists grow retina from stem cells. Report 

Manufacturing News

> Gartner taps TraceLink for supply chain kudos. Article 

> CMO Lonza builds in UK for bio business. Item 

> Serialization mandates highlight need for expertise. News

> GSK moves bioprocessing to UK from India. Story 

> TraceLink wins supply chain kudos. News 

And Finally... British scientists have discovered how antidepressants make new brain cells--a finding that should help drug researchers develop better and more efficient medicines to fight depression. Report