> Johnson & Johnson and Shire won the backing of Europe's highest court in their battle for exclusivity against a
generic rival for Alzheimer's drug Reminyl. Report
> Bristol-Myers Squibb and Elan's antibiotic Maxipime isn't linked to a higher rate of deaths compared with similar drugs, according to an FDA safety analysis. Report
> Medtronic said it had paid nearly $800,000 over an eight-year period to a former military surgeon accused by the Army of falsifying a study involving a Medtronic product. Report
> Bayer is considering acquisitions in animal health, ophthalmology and seed businesses, the Financial Times Deutschland reported. Report
> German lawmakers abandoned proposed regulations that would have discouraged drugmakers from sidestepping wholesalers in supplying their highest-priced pharmaceuticals directly to pharmacies. Report
> Shares of KV Pharmaceutical have risen so sharply since June 9 that the New York Stock Exchange has contacted the troubled firm about the unusual trading activity. Report
> FDA gave the nod to the Novartis drug Ilaris to treat children and adults with a rare but potentially fatal auto-inflammatory disease, cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome. Report
> GlaxoSmith Kline is the latest firm to use an 'auction' style pitch to consolidate its retained public relations agencies. Report
> After an increase in adverse reaction reports, the EPA has intensified its scrutiny of spot-on flea and tick treatments for pets. Report
> Omega Pharma, a Belgian distributor of OTC meds and other health products, is confident its plans for global expansion will bear fruit, with considerable growth in emerging economies. Report
Biotech News
> Aastrom's share were up on news that the FDA has lifted a clinical hold on the company's Phase II congestive heart failure trial. The trial is testing cardiac repair cells (CRC), which contain stem and early progenitor cells extracted from the patient's marrow. Report
> The FDA has approved Novartis' Ilaris (also known as canakinumab or ACZ885), a treatment for children and adults with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS). Report
Vaccine News
> Opko Health has decided to move into vaccine development and diagnostics following a crucial clinical trial failure in opthalmology last March. Report
> A group of five nations has joined the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to offer advance guarantees for new vaccines that can guard against some of the most common diseases seen in developing countries. Collectively, they are investing $1.5 billion with the expectation that the lure of new funds will spur manufacturers to develop new and better vaccines. Report
And Finally... Can the manipulation of smell really lead to weight loss? A handful of niche products would have you believe just that. Report