@FiercePharma: Novartis nabs FDA approval for 1st flu vaccine made without eggs. Produced at plant that got $500M in gov't aid. More (sub. req.) | Follow @FiercePharma
> Mexican regulators blocked Nestle's acquisition of Pfizer's ($PFE) nutrition unit in that country, saying the deal would give Swiss-based Nestle up to 88% of the baby formula market, clearing the way for price increases. Report
> Apotex petitioned a U.S. court to rule that its plan to sell a generic version of Daiichi Sankyo's Benicar blood pressure drug wouldn't step on the Japanese company's patents. Report
> The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended that birth control pills be made available over the counter. Report
> Administering the sleep drug Ambien or its combination-pill sister Intermezzo to hospital patients may help them rest but may also substantially increase their risk of a fall, a study found. Report
> The WHO said that drug marketing practices may amp up antibiotic use in a way that facilitates the spread of superbugs. Report
> Xoma's ($XOMA) combination of two generic hypertension drugs lowered blood pressure than either of the drugs alone, a study found. Report
@FierceMedDev: FDA faults St. Jude's manufacturing for Durata ICD leads. St. Jude disclosed the report but kept "Durata" out. More | Follow @FierceMedDev
@MarkHFierce: Zimmer will train regulators in China in an unusual deal. Release | Follow @MarkHFierce
@DamianFierce: Novartis' Alcon is buying the ophthalmic surgery unit of German company SensoMotoric. Story | Follow @DamianFierce
> Boston Scientific gets CE mark for expanded CRM longevity. Article
> HeartWare snags FDA approval for novel heart pump. News
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: Predicting your end: Biomarkers for mortality. News | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Feds zero in on drug experts as insider case exposes investigator's role (more to come, I suspect). Story | Follow @JohnCFierce
@RyanMFierce: With ex-BMSer Jeremy Levin at the helm, Teva wants to do buyouts that are smaller than the deals that made Teva big. More | Follow @RyanMFierce
> Xoma hunts for marketing partner as blood pressure med clears PhIII. Article
> Pfizer, Bristol-Myers win landmark European approval for Eliquis. Story
Drug Delivery News
> Fujifilm joins microneedle R&D boom. Report
> Reinforced gels deliver drugs and cells. Article
> Pfizer hits ups, downs with controlled-release Lyrica. News
> Nanoparticles deliver antigen to trick the immune system in MS. Story
Biomarkers News
> Predicting your end: Biomarkers for mortality. Article
> Kidney problems tag development delays? Story
> Saliva markers diagnose gum disease. News
> DoD's $1.15M grant may lead to blood test to catch heavy drinkers. Item
Vaccine News
> J&J hits development roadblock with Crucell candidates. Article
> FDA panel concerned about safety of Dynavax's hep B vaccine. News
> Novartis nabs EU committee backing for meningitis B vaccine. Story
> GSK's Synflorix gleans positive results in infants. Report
> FDA approves Novartis flu vaccine. Item
And Finally... U.S. officials tracking down the purveyors of fake Avastin may find common cause with Mark Twain, who lambasted a bogus medicine salesman in a scathing 1905 letter. Report | Report