@FiercePharma: Avista sold out of Nycomed, but it's taking ex-CEO Hajan Bjorklund with it to work healthcare. Avista release | Follow @FiercePharma
> A Los Angeles jury levied $48 million in damages against Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) in a lawsuit involving a man who developed a skin disorder after using the company's Motrin pain reliever. Report
> Iceland's Actavis is planning a "major sales expansion" in Latin America, particularly Brazil. News
> European regulators asked Celgene ($CELG) to provide more details to the public about the risk of secondary cancers with use of its blood cancer drug Revlimid. Item
> Swiss drugmaker Basilea Pharmaceutica's biggest shareholder is asking for four seats on an expanded board and for a buyback plan to boost the stock after a 42% drop. Article
> Abbott Laboratories' ($ABT) Humira is growing its share of the market for early-line treatment of psoriasis, while Amgen and Pfizer's Enbrel is declining. Release
> PhRMA Executive Vice President and General Counsel Diane Bieri will step down in December after 7 years at the industry association. Report
> Generics maker Akorn agreed to buy some assets from contract manufacturer Kilitch, including an injectables plant in Paonta Sahib, India. Akorn release
> Patients in Czech Republic pay the second least for medicine in all the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a study found. Item
> Pharma industry supplier Gerresheimer posted a 9.9% increase in Q3 revenues and 36% rise in net income. It also hiked its guidance for the year. Gerresheimer release
> The U.S. Army is hosting a pharma industry day to discuss a potential contract for a drug to stave off harm from nerve-agent attacks. Article
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: Cougar founder snags Pfizer cancer drug, raises $55M, launches biotech (called Puma). News | Follow @FierceBiotech
@ JohnCFierce: From the WSJ: "many innovative start-up (med-tech) companies are choosing to commercialize, and hence create jobs, overseas." Really? | Follow @JohnCFierce
@RyanMFierce: Kevin Davies cool piece on DNA Electronics and it's "one chip, one drug" or "bug" vision in POC diagnostics. News | Follow @RyanMFierce
@MaureenFierce: Sanofi boosts India presence with $300M investment. $SNY hits two birds (vaccines, emerging markets) with one stone. Item | Follow @MaureenFierce
> Sanofi earns a "modest" win with positive oral MS PhIII data. Article
> Cougar founder snags Pfizer cancer drug, raises $55M and launches new biotech. News
> FDA commish outlines plan to speed new drug development. Story
> Join the experts in a discussion on early-stage R&D. Report
Vaccines News
> Sanofi boosts India presence with $300M vaccine investment. News
> Addiction vaccines face added funding hurdles. Story
> Emergent BioSolutions gets gov't order for BioThrax. Item
> Study: Parents making their own vaccine schedules for children. Report
> Computer model could take kinks out of vaccine supply chain. Piece
Manufacturing News
> MIT's Hockfield reports worrisome lack of interest in manufacturing. News
> FDA grants to boost manufacturing, regulatory science. Story
> Baxter faces land contamination suit in PR. Article
> Saudi Arabia continues to beckon Big Pharma. News
> Hospital perspective of shortages casts pharma earnings in bad light. Piece
> Rep. Cummings finds drug shortage gray market prospering. Story
And Finally... Steve Jobs' death puts a spotlight on neuroendocrine tumors, now targeted by FDA-approved treatments from Pfizer ($PFE) and Novartis ($NVS). Report