Sanofi wraps up Acambis deal; AstraZeneca prevails in Pulmicort suit

> Sanofi-Aventis is set to complete its acquisition of Britain's Acambis today, with plans to keep the vaccine developer partly autonomous, to maintain its entrepreneurial spirit. Report

> AstraZeneca won a U.S. court ruling against Teva Pharmaceutical Industries that upholds patent protection on the children’s version of the Pulmicort asthma treatment. Report

> Boston Scientific got the FDA nod for its new Taxus Express2 drug-coated stent, the only stent approved for small blood vessels. Report

> PDL BioPharma named Faheem Hasnain president and chief executive, and said he will take that role in its spin-off company, Facet Biotech Corp. PDL release

> Oriel Therapeutics has named Dr. Richard Fuller as CEO; most recently he was executive vice president of Aerovance. Report

> Seniors who switch between low-cost generic drugs and the original products based on who's footing the bill are likely driving up the cost of the government's Medicare drug plan, according to a new study. Report

> ForteBio is pocketing $25 million from its third round of venture capital. OrbiMed Advisors led the round with MPM Capital, Alloy Ventures, Versant Ventures, The Vertical Group and Latterell Venture Partners joining in. Report

> Sequenom won $20 million in grants from the state of Michigan as it completes a deal to buy a lab in Grand Rapids and expand the operations, bringing more than 500 new jobs to the economically depressed region. Report

> An international study from Canada's McGill University says that the aggressive patent strategies of the world's biotech and pharma companies--as well as universities--are stifling innovation. Report

> A small mid-stage study has produced positive interim data for Cytokinetics' experimental drug CK-1827452. A full set of data will be delivered to Amgen--which has an option to co-develop the drug--by the end of the year. Report

> Although the study was previously halted by the FDA, Allergy Therapeutics says its Pollinex Quattro ragweed vaccine met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant response. The company plans to go ahead and pursue an approval in Canada. Report

And Finally... Big Pharma's top 13 advertising budgets. Report