@FiercePharma: Free generic Lipitor! Wegmans' pharmacy uses atorvastatin as a loss-leader. Cash price? $67.88. Story | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: Hikma has started up production at NJ plant that got FDA warning letter, while injectables going gangbusters. Article | Follow @EricPFierce
> Almost 50% of IP lawyers for drugmakers surveyed recently say their companies are currently in the midst of patent litigation and 43% says there is a big chance they will sue a competitor this year for patent infringement. Story
> Mylan ($MYL) will be able to launch by August a generic version of Shionogi's Fortamet extended-release metformin after reaching an agreement over patent litigation. Item
> Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) has opened its new center in London, one of several, as it looks to get closer to drug development in certain regions. Story
> If you want to know about unreported side effects, Google it, say researchers with the Stanford University School of Medicine and Microsoft Research. Story
> Profits for Slovenian drugmaker Krka were down about 2% to €159.8 million ($206.9 million) because of higher costs. Item
> A study finds that governors who refuse to expand their Medicaid programs may cost employers in their states as much as $1.3 billion in federal fines which employers must pay if their employees can't find affordable healthcare. Story
> A meta study finds that the pandemic H1N1 flu vaccines used in the U.S. come with a slightly greater risk of the muscle weakening condition, Guillain-Barré syndrome. Report
@FierceMedDev: Sundance sees future for companion Dx to measure drug-related suicide risk. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev
@MarkHFierce: Huge: Navidea's lymph node Dx mapping agent is the first of its kind to gain the FDA's blessing in 30 years. Article | Follow @MarkHFierce
@DamianFierce: Add "find a new CFO" to Quest Diagnostics' "stop shrinking" checklist. Release | Follow @DamianFierce
> Intuitive blames rise in da Vinci injury reports on policy change. Story
> J&J's internal docs say recalled hip was defective. Report
> Expert: Device tax risks chasing 146,000 jobs overseas. Item
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: From FierceBiomarkers.com: GenoMine test spots three new kidney cancer biomarkers. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: FDA proposes to dramatically lower the bar on Alzheimer's drugs. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce
@RyanMFierce: Mesoblast, developer of stem cell therapy for degenerative spine, landed A$170M. Good for regenerative rx field: Release | Follow @RyanMFierce
> Researchers, biopharma companies protest budget cuts at FDA, NIH. More
> Cytos Biotechnology soars on results of asthma-drug study. Item
> Presidio rebounds with Boehringer hep C cocktail collaboration. News
Pharma Manufacturing News
> Drugmakers press Congress on sequestered fees slated for inspections. Story
> Moves to help ease drug shortages undercut Spectrum. Item
> Mitsubishi pushes into India with Neuland API deal. Article
> EU API law has drugmakers there in panic. Report
> Hikma's injectables biz rides competitors' woes to new heights. More
Vaccines News
> Top 5 Vaccine Companies by Revenue - 2012. Special Report
> Experts weigh in on smallpox preparedness. Article
> Vaccines falter in fight against whooping cough. News
> Narcolepsy link raises doubts about next-gen adjuvants. Story
> Experts weigh in on smallpox preparedness. More
And Finally... Neuro-ethicists writing in the journal Neurology say that there is evidence if growing use of ADHD drugs among adolescents who use them in hopes of boosting their mental prowess and that docs need to tell parents asking for them no. Post