Roche, Biogen nab maintenance use for Rituxan; Daiichi forecasts record profits;

 @FiercePharma: Which diabetes meds lead fast-growing U.S. market? Item | Follow @FiercePharma

> The FDA has approved cancer drug Rituxan as a maintenance therapy for patients with advanced follicular lymphoma, adding a potentially lucrative new use for the multibillion-dollar medicine for Roche and Biogen Idec. News

> Daiichi Sankyo, Japan's third- largest drugmaker, predicted lower R&D costs would contribute to a record increase in annual profit, to $853 million. Story

> Ohio prison officials say they have no intention of honoring Lundbeck's request to refrain from using its pentobarbital drug in executions. Item

> A huge study in Britain suggests that women thought to be at lowest risk from hormone replacement therapy may actually carry the highest risk of breast cancer. Article

> Endo Pharmaceuticals said it intends to defend its medicine patch Lidoderm after Mylan Technologies applied to produce a generic version. Report

> Saudi Arabia's pharmaceutical market, the largest in the Gulf Cooperation Council, is forecast to grow 5.9 percent both this year and in 2012, but the current strong market domination by patented drugs is set to decline. Story

> Caraco Pharmaceutical reported a third-quarter net loss of $3.03 million or $0.08 per share. News

> A high profile Indo-Russian business meeting is to focus on bilateral cooperation in information technology and pharmaceuticals. Report


Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Orexigen's Contrave: An obesity drug timeline. News | Follow @FierceBiotech 

 @JohnCFierce: Novartis' Jimenez likes animal health acquisitions, making him a likely bidder for the Merck/Sanofi ops. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

> Sanofi (finally) gets access to Genzyme's books. Story 

> Antisoma struggling to survive as another cancer drug flunks Ph3. Item

> NPS soars on positive Ph3 data for orphan SBS drug. Report 

> Sir Chris: $1B US BioVex deal highlights weak biotech support in UK. Item

> Alexion snaps up Taligen for $111M-plus, creates translational unit. Article

Biotech IT News

> Report: Ignoring past trial data is unethical. News

> Tablet maker teams for CNS study data collection. Item 

> Quintiles, Covance, Cato among CRO tweeters. Story 

> Use public impatience to open drug R&D efforts. Article 

> Panel advises FDA on missing data from trial reports. News 

> CRO's iPhone app gives on-demand study updates. Report 

Medical Device News

> OrthoSensor raises $21M in Series B. Article

> Justice sues Boston Sci over faulty defibrillators. Report 

> FDA panel advises more testing for ECT devices. Story 

> Kensey Nash purchases surgical sealant technology for $20M. News 

> Report: EU device regulations as safe as those in U.S. Item

> Kalorama: Device tax could encourage outsourcing. Report

And Finally... Researchers analyzed how a single strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae has morphed over 30 years and spread globally in an attempt to overcome the development of antibiotics and vaccines. Report