NICE rejects Eisai's Halaven for breast cancer; AZ nears EU nod on thyroid cancer med;

@FiercePharma: Counterfeiting tricks emerge in Chinese crackdown. E.g., to make fake little blue pills blue, add printer ink. News | Follow @FiercePharma

> U.K. cost-effectiveness regulators said they wouldn't recommend Eisai's new breast cancer treatment Halaven for use on the National Health Sevice, saying its survival benefit didn't outweigh increased side effects. Story

> The GAVI Alliance said it would be making human papillomavirus vaccines, such as Merck's ($MRK) Gardasil and GlaxoSmithKline's ($GSK) Cervarix, available to women and girls in poor countries. Report

> AstraZeneca ($AZN) has won a positive opinion from European regulators for approval of its thyroid cancer treatment Caprelsa. Item

> Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) plans to phase out a formaldehyde-releasing chemical now used in its baby shampoos, soaps and other products, after a report on the chemicals touched off public criticism. News

> Pharmacy benefits manager SXC Health Solutions will buy the privately held HealthTrans for $250 million to broaden its reach in the PBM market. Article

> Slovenian drugmaker Krka reported a 4% decline in 9-months profits to $156 million because of currency effects. The company is planning a new listing on the Warsaw stock exchange by mid-year 2012. Piece

> As AstraZeneca  ($AZN) nears the closure of its site in Charnwood, England, the company says 90% of workers losing their jobs have "secured their future." News

> Clinical trials for new CV meds often test them as add-ons for statins, excluding patients who can't tolerate the widely used cholesterol fighters, so additional trials are needed, researchers said. Report

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: FDA delays review of key Takeda diabetes drug and Actos combo. Item | Follow @FierceBiotech

@MaureenFierce: Sad: US seniors having to pay more for their Rx drugs, according to a new study. Story | Follow @MaureenFierce

 @MarkHFierce: So Russia plans to be a global device competitor by 2020? Hmmm.... Release | Follow @MarkHFierce

> AstraZeneca wins EMA backing for thyroid cancer drug. Report

> FDA delays review of key Takeda diabetes drug, Actos combo. Story

And Finally... Facebook and other social media are making it easier for vaccination-averse parents to arrange "pox parties" to expose kids to chickenpox infection. More