Merck, Sanofi delay animal health JV; Dutch gov't to sell off public vaccine ops;

@FiercePharma: J&J cuts Weldon's bonus, but grants raise for 2011. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

> Merck said ongoing reviews by antitrust regulators will delay the formation of a new animal-health joint venture with Sanofi-Aventis until the third quarter. Report

> The Dutch government has put the manufacturing operations of the Netherlands Vaccine Institute up for sale following a decision to cease government-owned production of vaccines. News

> PDL BioPharma has agreed to settle a legal dispute with Novartis; it will pay the Swiss drugmaker an amount based on the net sales of the eye drug Lucentis this year and beyond. Item

> German generics maker Stada forecast sales and earnings to grow this year and next and said cost cuts may help boost 2011 core earnings to a fresh all-time high. Article

> Ranbaxy Laboratories, controlled by Japan's Daiichi Sankyo, will market four of the parent company's drugs in Singapore. Report

> The FDA has suggested manufacturers consider removing zinc from denture creams following reports of neurological problems that might be associated with zinc poisoning. Story

> Shire said its Intuniv hyperactivity drug has been approved by FDA for use in combination with a stimulant to treat children and adolescents aged six to 17. Item

> The U.K.'s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has put out a call to Swiss drugmaker Roche for more data in support of cancer drug MabThera's use on the National Health Service. Article

> The European Medicines Agency's decision to allow former executive director Thomas Lonngren to take up an advisory role within the pharmaceutical industry--just weeks after leaving his position at EMA--risks conflicts of interest, campaigners have claimed. Report

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech:  Aggressive midcap biotechs suit up for the M&A game. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce:  Biotech and pharma boundaries will continue to blur. Follow @JohnCFierce 

> Daiichi Sankyo nabs tiny Plexxikon in $935M deal. Story

> Forest, Nycomed win narrow FDA approval on new COPD drug. Item

> Pfizer updates late-stage pipeline prospects and discards. Article 

Biotech Research News

> The search for model of 'animal model'. Item

> Children often an afterthought in drug development. Report

> Gene therapy forces breast cancer to self-destruct. News

> HP uses inkjet printer tech for drug discovery. Article

> Study: PSA velocity should not determine biopsy. Item

Manufacturing News

> GSK boosts plant job cuts by 20. Article

> FDA, Triad stung in alcohol pad recall. News

> Constantino defies Cramer on pharma stocks: Buy. Report

> Report: 50% of pharma serializing in 2011. Story

> Pharma lobbies for tougher theft penalties. News 

> Cialis fakes maker sentenced in London. Item

And Finally... President Obama signed on to a bipartisan plan that would let states opt out of federal requirements three years earlier than slated in the original healthcare reform law. Report