> Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' Copaxone drug can cut the likelihood of patients progressing to full-blown multiple sclerosis almost in half, researchers said. Report
> Genzyme said FDA will not allow the company to market its leukemia drug Clolar to previously untreated older adults unless it completes an additional clinical trial. Report
> European health regulators have approved Johnson & Johnson's new once-monthly arthritis drug Simponi, J&J and Schering-Plough Corp said. Report
> The European Commission approved Baxter International's Celvapan vaccine against H1N1 flu. Report
> Nigerian officials have lost the list of victims to be compensated under Pfizer's $75 million settlement with the Kano State government following the Trovan meningitis trials in that country. Report
> Ten women filed lawsuits against Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals alleging that they suffered from deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms as a result of taking the prescription contraceptives Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella. Report
> Generic drugmaker Perrigo received final marketing approval from the FDA for its new over-the-counter bowel drug. Report
Biotech News
> The new biotech paradigm: Survive and stay independent. Report
> Repros Therapeutics got a badly needed lift this morning after it announced that a small study of Androxal demonstrated its ability to restore sperm count and boost testosterone levels in men with secondary hypogonadism. Article
> Up until Tuesday, MannKind Corp. had been confidently predicting that it would have a deep-pocket partner all lined up for its inhaled insulin therapy Afresa by the end of the year. Yesterday, the company deeply disappointed the faithful in the investment community with its revised timetable. Report
Manufacturing News
> Presto! Tamiflu multiplies in supply chain magic. Report
> Oracle and New Momentum are collaborating to help drug makers combat counterfeits. The effort is expected to offer pharmaceutical companies the ability to track units through the supply chain as well as quickly find the fakes. Report
> The combination of disposable technology, contract manufacturing capabilities, and a development partner has led specialty biopharma Itero, in San Mateo, CA, to join forces with opposite-coast biomolecule developer, manufacturer and equipment maker Xcellerex. Itero's focus is clinically and commercially differentiated protein molecules that serve niche markets. Article
> UPS has inaugurated a facility for healthcare logistics in Europe. The facility caters to the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries. Item
> The FDA last week issued its first guidance for industry on Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS), which the regulator can require in cases where it wants to make sure that a drug's benefits outweigh its risks. The guide represents a blueprint for how drugmakers should develop safety strategies. Article
> Beginning this week, a manufacturing change to the anti-clotting drug heparin will likely decrease its potency, according to an FDA alert. Report
And Finally... German scientists have found a clue to why some women with breast cancer respond better to treatment with the drug tamoxifen, a finding that could help doctors offer personalised treatment. Report