> Merck and Schering-Plough will pay $41.5 million to settle class-action lawsuits over their shared cholesterol drugs Vytorin and Zetia, in separate deals with consumers and health plans. Report
> Cephalon said profits grew 63 percent to $84.8 million in the second quarter on an 11 percent rise in revenues to $547.8 million. Report
> Shire reported second quarter revenues just ahead of expectations, as strong growth from new drugs offset a big hit from the loss of patent protection on hyperactivity pill Adderall XR. Report
> Johnson & Johnson's DePuy Orthopaedics device unit has received a subpoena from the New Jersey attorney general seeking information on the financial interests of clinical investigators who performed studies for the company. Report
> Novavax said it could manufacture its vaccine candidate for the new strain of H1N1 influenza virus within 11 weeks of receiving the gene sequence CDC, sending its shares up more than 20 percent in trading before the bell. Report
> United Therapeutics got the FDA nod for Tyvaso, its inhaled drug to treat pulmonary hypertension, sending its shares up as much as 13 percent Report
> Genzyme got the okay from European regulators to market its its therapy Mozobil, used with stem cell transplants in lymphoma or multiple myeloma treatment. Report
> People treated with antidepressants are increasingly likely to get antipsychotics at the same time; nearly 9 percent of antidepressant users were prescribed antipsychotics in 2005, compared with 5.5 percent in 1996. Report
Biotech News
> PPD, which has had to cut jobs and sell a facility in the U.S. due to weakening demand, is opening a new facility in Ireland. Recruitment has begun for staff who will fill the halls of a new research facility set to open in Athlone, Ireland. Report
> While the industry has been suffering through some challenging times, July proved to be a hot month for biotech stock as several key announcements led the sector to its best July performance in years. Report
> In April, La Jolla Pharmaceutical warned that if it wasn't able to raise funds, a merger, license agreement or other collaboration, it would have to liquidate. And with no "knight in shining armor" showing up at the eleventh hour, La Jolla said today that it would ask shareholders to approve a liquidation plan at a special meeting. Report
> Purdue Pharmaceutical and Transcept Pharmaceuticals have signed a deal to commercialize the sleep aid Intermezzo. Report
Manufacturing News
> Having momentarily finished with Caraco in Michigan, FDA inspectors made their way south to Teva Animal Health in St. Joseph, MO, and then north to Apotex in Toronto. Report
> Prescription pharmaceutical e-pedigree tracking capabilities can now be combined with enterprise software via a partnership between supply-chain solutions provider rfXcel Corp and International Business Systems. Report
> DSM Pharmaceuticals has earned the SafeBridge Potent Compound Safety Certification for the handling of potent active pharmaceutical ingredients and drug products. Report
> The FDA has informed Genzyme that it will visit the company's beleaguered Allston Landing manufacturing facility to follow up on a May inspection. Report
And Finally... People who have even slightly elevated cholesterol when they are middle-aged have a higher risk of dementia later on, researchers said. Report