@FiercePharma: Avandia decision a bellwether for Obama FDA. Article | Follow @FiercePharma
> In another legal victory for Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has denied a request by generics manufacturer Apotex for a second re-examination of the patent for blockbuster anti-clotting drug Plavix. Report
> The FDA is looking into possible risks from Eli Lilly's new bloodthinner Effient and Sanofi-Aventis' new heart drug Multaq, the agency disclosed in a quarterly summary of early safety investigations. Story
> Bristol-Myers Squibb has recalled some of its samples of Coumadin, a popular blood thinner, because of a variation in an ingredient that stabilizes the active drug. Report
> Canadian courts approved a $17.6 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit launched by individuals who became diabetic after taking Eli Lilly's antipsychotic drug Zyprexa. Article
> Alcon will hold a shareholder meeting in August to vote on five board nominees proposed by Novartis, which is in the process of buying an additional 52 percent stake in the eye care company. Source
> Novartis' cancer drug Afinitor more than doubles the time patients with a certain type of pancreatic cancer live without tumour growth, according to new research. Report
> Bristol-Myers Squibb plans to demolish half of the 118 buildings at its East Syracuse operation in a facelift that reflects the changes that have occurred inside the drug plant. Article
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: On a buying spree, Sanofi scoops up TargeGen in $635M deal. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: The prospect of add-on approvals could make quite a difference on the revenue side. CELG certainly can do better than Abraxis alone. | @JohnCFierce
> GSK aims for biotech attitude at R&D ops. News
> Arena lands $1.3B weight drug pact with Eisai. Item
> Scangos promises R&D action as he takes the reins at Biogen. Report
> Shire buys Boston technology park. Article
Vaccines News
> Report: Abbott looking to sell Solvay's flu vax unit. Item
> Expect lower flu vax demand in Europe next year. Article
> New meningitis vax arrives in Africa. Report
> Up to 70M doses of unused H1N1 vax to be destroyed. News
> Theraclone makes a breakthrough on universal flu vax. Story
Manufacturing News
> Sanofi to build new plant in Saudi Arabia. Report
> New FDA rules could streamline CMC reporting. Story
> Genzyme rare disease drugs in short supply. Item
> CSL execs called to FDA over plant violations. Article
> McNeil recalls touch off pallet worries. News
> BMS plans to remodel its downsized Syracuse plant. Report
And Finally... About a quarter of the swine flu vaccine produced for the U.S. public has expired--meaning that a whopping 40 million doses worth about $260 million are being written off as trash. Story