> CanWest Mediaworks, Canada’s largest newspaper publisher and owner of more than 30 television stations, is suing the federal government for not permitting direct-to-consumer advertising, saying it breaches freedom of expression rights. Report
> Small restaurateurs in Massachusetts are joining the lobbying against a bill that would ban pharma gifts to docs. Report
> Boehringer Ingelheim and Gilead agreed to freeze prices for their HIV drugs sold to government agencies, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation announced. Release
A Cowen & Co. analyst upgraded Eli Lilly and Novartis to "Outperform" and downgraded Bristol-Myers Squibb to "Neutral." Report
> First DataBank, whose databases are widely relied upon by pharmacies and others to set prescription drug prices, has agreed to pay $1 million to settle a class-action lawsuit claiming it helped gouge consumers. Report
> Protherics' growing sales could not ward off a drop in the share price Tuesday after the speciality pharmaceuticals company reported a $33.7 million pre-tax loss for the year ended March 31. Report
> The European Medicines Agency said UCB SA's Parkinson's drug Neupro should kept in cold storage to reduce the possibility that its active ingredient might crystallize; the company is revising its distribution system to accommodate. Report | Release
> The executive vice president of corporate development of drug company Questcor Pharmaceuticals exercised options for and sold 100,000 shares of common stock, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Report
> GlaxoSmithKline has inked a five year, $25 million collaboration deal with the Disease Institute of Boston to conduct on immunoinflammation research. GSK report
> Indevus is facing a major setback in its efforts to gain approval for Nebido. Indevus said it expects the FDA to formally request more safety information on the drug, which will include another Phase III trial. Indevus report
> Despite a recent Ernst & Young report on the funding challenges in Canada, Inimex Pharmaceuticals managed to round up a healthy $22 million in Series B funding. VC report
> Sunesis Pharmaceuticals is realigning to focus on the development voreloxin (SNS-595) and cutting 60 jobs in the process. Layoff report
And Finally... What if overeating and flab had only a correlative relationship, rather than the taken-for-granted causal link? Report