Novo, Shire raise earnings forecasts; Celgene nabs antitrust OK to buy Abraxis;

 @FiercePharma: Pharma cuts 2,023 jobs in July. Article |  Follow @FiercePharma

> Danish pharma Novo Nordisk posted forecast-beating second-quarter earnings and raised its full-year outlook for 2010 as sales of its diabetes treatments continued to grow rapidly, but cautioned that the competitive environment is challenging in some of its key markets. Report

> Shire raised full-year earnings guidance as it shrugged off declining sales of a former blockbusting drug and took advantage of woes at rival Genzyme. Article

> Celgene won antitrust approval to buy Abraxis Bioscience and expects to close the $2.9 billion transaction in the third or fourth quarter. Story

> Thailand's Health Ministry plans to extend compulsory licenses for two AIDS medicines this month--Bristol-Myers Squibb's Sustiva and Kaletra, which is sold by Abbott Laboratories. Report

> Watson Pharmaceuticals recruited former Actavis CEO Sigurdur Oli Olafsson to be EVP in charge of global generics, effective September 1. Item

> Par Pharmaceutical said its profit shrank 23 percent in the second quarter because of greater competition for its top-selling product, a generic version of the heart drug Toprol XL. Story

> Daiichi Sankyo says it reached a patent litigation settlement clearing the way for launch of a generic version of its dry mouth drug, Evoxac, in the fourth quarter of 2012. News

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Early-stage deals are getting a lot sweeter for biotechs. Article   | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: After seeing its lead therapy naproxcinod rebuffed at the FDA, France's NicOx says it will shutter its U.S. HQ. Report | Follow @JohnCFierce

> Penwest plans new staff cuts. Report

> PwC sees big 2Q jump in biotech venture investments. Story

> Xarelto matches standard in head-to-head blood clot trial. Item

> Feds' new computer tox test saves research time, money. Story

Vaccines News

> New Hutch president looks for real cures among research. Story

> Scientists working on chronic stress vax. News

> Dendreon: Provenge on course to hit blockbuster goal. Article

> New therapeutic vax targets multiple cancers. Item

> Manufacturers get an early start on flu vax shipments. Story

> New poll taps strong public fear about HIV vaccines. Report

Manufacturing News

> Act aims to fortify FDA rule of non-U.S. drugs. Story

> Genzyme manufacturing woes yield patent threat. Report

> FDA calls out AMPAC on sketchy reply to warning. Item

> FDA proposes QbD methods for skin patches. Story

> India steps up control of imports. Article

> Chinese made-in-India fakes seized by regulators. News

And Finally... The generic drugs market in India is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of around 16.3 percent during fiscal 2011 to fiscal 2013, a new report says. Report