N.C. jury levies $12.8M judgment in Novartis case; Study questions Plavix-aspirin combo;

@FiercePharma: J&J pulls more children's drugs off store shelves. News | Follow @FiercePharma

Special Report: FierceBiotech's Top Writers in Biotech. Report

> A North Carolina jury decided that Novartis failed to adequately warn about the risks of its Zometa and Aredia bone-strengthening meds and awarded $12.8 million to Rita Fussman, whose family claimed she suffered jawbone damage while dying of breast cancer last year. Article

> Plavix and aspirin are often prescribed together to prevent blood clots because warfarin can lead to uncontrolled bleeding in some patients, but a new study has found the combination treatment can also cause serious hemorrhages. Story

> Acrux, the developer of an underarm testosterone lotion with Eli Lilly, rose to a record in Australian trading after the treatment was approved for sale in the U.S. Report

Special Report: The 2010 Biotech Graveyard: Report

> German executives of drugmaker Bayer must fly to America for depositions in litigation over its contraceptive drugs Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella, U.S. District Judge David Herndon has decided. News

> Sinopharm Group said it planned to issue up to 5 billion yuan ($752.7 million) worth of medium term notes, raising capital to fund operational activities, adding liquidity and for repaying bank loans. Report

> Wockhardt has restarted talks with Abbott Laboratories to sell its nutrition business, Bloomberg UTV reported, citing sources; the company is seeking as much as 9 billion rupees for the unit, the report said. Item

> A drug used to euthanize animals has been approved for use in capital punishment in Oklahoma, a decision that could affect other states scrambling to address a nationwide shortage of a key anesthetic used in executions. Story

> Gilead Sciences asked the FDA to approve a single pill combination of its HIV treatment Truvada and Tibotec Pharmaceuticals' rilpivirine. Article

> Roche is selling its Roche Carolina plant in Florence, South Carolina, which has 330 workers, as part of a move to cut its employment by 4,800 worldwide. News

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Uphill climb gets even steeper for biotech IPOs. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: A few weeks ago Amira's Bob Baltera was brimming with confidence about new financing. Today, not so much. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

> Twin blows spur a crisis of confidence in RNAi. Item 

> Roche dumps hep C development deal with Ligand. Article 

> China Medicine taps new CFO. Item

Drug Delivery News

> Nanoparticle sticks around to make sure cancer cells are dead. News

> Carbon nanotubes, electrical fields double-team tumors. Item

> 'Nanobioconjugate' hits brain tumor target. Story

> Nose-to-brain delivery has a rat problem. Article

> Hedge fund Ramius tries to shake up SurModics. Report

> Graphene works in drug delivery, but will it leave the body? Item

Medical Device News

> Mela wins narrow backing for skin cancer detector. Story

> Boston Sci ($BSX) agrees to pay up to $450M for Sadra Medical. Article 

> L.H., Merit plan med device hirings. Report 

> Medtronic ($MDT) inks deal to acquire Ardian for $800M. Story 

> AstraZeneca ($AZN) plots $2B sale of device unit. News 

> Medtronic ($MDT) lowers earnings expectations again. Item

And Finally... Combining aerobic exercise and resistance training lowered blood-sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes, a new study has found. Report