Shanghai preps for $3B in drug-buying deals; Elliott backs Actelion board nominees;

@FiercePharma: Union urges votes against CEO pay at Pfizer, J&J. News | Follow @FiercePharma

> Shanghai Pharmaceuticals, one of China's biggest medicine companies, said it will ink more than 20 billion yuan ($3.06 billion) worth of procurement contracts with 69 multinational pharmaceutical companies this year. News

> Elliott Advisors, the biggest shareholder in Actelion, offered a partial olive branch to the Swiss biotech group by supporting its nomination of two new independent board members, including former GlaxoSmithKline CEO Jean-Pierre Garnier. Report

> Watson Pharmaceuticals will move its corporate headquarters to Parsippany, New Jersey from Corona, California. Item

> India's No. 2 drugmaker Dr. Reddy's Laboratories launched its over-the-counter Fexofenadine HCl tablets, a generic version of Sanofi Aventis' antihistamine drug Allegra. Article

> UK household-goods and consumer health company Reckitt Benckiser said Rakesh Kapoor will take over as CEO in September, replacing Bart Becht, who has quit after 16 years at the helm. Story

> The UK's Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority, which arbitrates drug industry self-regulation, issued "informal guidance" on digital communications, and while it's more than FDA has offered, it's not much to go on. Item

> New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed into law a bill enabling OSI Pharmaceuticals to expand at Farmingdale State College. Report

> Bulgarian pharmaceuticals maker Sopharma has acquired the Belorussian pharmacy chain Tabina through its Latvian unit Briz. Article

> The New York Pharma Forum, a non-profit association for biopharmaceutical corporations, announced the election of Blaine McKee, SVP at Genzyme, as its president. NYPF release

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Burrill: Pharma's M&A strategy has failed. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

> Regulus, UC San Diego team on microRNA. Story 

> Nasal vaccines could replace shots. Article 

> RegeneRx sets sights on dry-eye treatment. News 

> Does Eisai's epilepsy drug work? Yes and no. Report 

> Merrimack raises $77M for cancer work. News 

> Plasticell spins out regenerative medicine company. Item 

Vaccines News

> Personalized cancer vax shows promise against glioblastomas in study. Report 

> Nasal vaccines could replace flu, pneumonia shots. Item 

> HPV vax effective after longer dosing schedule. Article 

> Army researchers start ricin vaccine trial. News

> PATH calls for cheaper, more effective pneumococcal vaccines. Story 

Manufacturing News

> API crystals foul Hospira cancer drug. Item

> Ex-QC inspector alleges H&P/Triad plant violations. Report 

> COO search marks Triad/H&P effort on raided plant. News 

> FDA's OK of Perrigo plant signals SOP fixes. Item

And Finally... A new multiple sclerosis study debunks a theory about a potential cause for the disease, which had led patients to seek risky surgeries to unblock neck veins when drug treatments didn't work for them. Report