@FiercePharma: Elan CEO agrees to step down in 2012. Article | Follow @FiercePharma
> Ranbaxy Laboratories' U.K. unit is recalling all unused stock of a batch of gabapentin, a generic treatment for nerve pain, after failing to update mandatory safety information. Report
> A group of people suffering Parkinson's disease are suing two Australian drug companies over medication that allegedly caused gambling and pornography addiction, the Sydney Morning Herald reported Friday. Story
> Lawyers for Pennsylvania said a Johnson & Johnson unit misled state officials about the health risks of its antipsychotic drug Risperdal, duping the state into spending $289 million more for the drug than it should have. Report
> Medco Health Solutions (NYSE: MHS) recently launched a new consumer branding campaign around the character of Dr. Obvious, Ph.D. to drive home the message that people who use The Medco Pharmacy could save upwards of $300 on their long-term prescription drugs. Release
> Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) said it is recalling two intravenous antibiotics and an anti-nausea medication after floating matter was discovered at the Claris Lifesciences plant where they are manufactured. Report
> Purdue Pharma's patent claims for controlled-release tramadol, a pain medication, are invalid, a U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed in a new ruling. Report
> GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis and Baxter International distributed more than 179 million doses of pandemic flu vaccine in Western Europe, of which at least a fifth has been used, the European Medicines Agency says. Report
> India's Lupin says its U.S. unit has won the FDA nod to make and sell its generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's Lamictal, which is used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. Report
> Women who want to use hormone replacement therapy may be less likely to have a stroke if they use low-dose patches instead of pills, Canadian researchers reported. Report
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: Burrill: Biopharma no longer a shelter in the storm. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Vertex is currently hiring for more than 130 open positions, including jobs in Cambridge, San Diego & other locations. | Follow @JohnCFierce
> J&J MD&D segment sees 80 submissions in next two years. Story
> Mass. approves $1B biotech project. Item
> AMG 479 shows "promising activity" in pancratic cancer. Report
> Sanofi inks $398M cancer R&D deal with Ascenta. Article
> Merck trumpets a global research initiative to speed cancer drugs. News
And Finally... A new report shows one in five high school students have taken a prescription drug that they didn't get from a doctor. Report