Valeant to pay $85M for Brazilian supplement maker; Ipsen sales growth swallowed by charges;

@FiercePharma: Merck joins the select Big Pharma group that's reporting higher earnings and sales for Q4 and 2011--PR. Release | Follow @FiercePharma

> Valeant Pharmaceuticals ($VRX) bought a Brazilian supplements maker for $85 million in a deal expected to add to earnings immediately. News

> The French drugmaker Ipsen saw a 14.6% increase in fourth-quarter sales but took several charges against earnings, thanks to supply problems affecting a children's growth drug and downgraded sales at a U.S. biotech company it partially owns. Item

> The European Commission told Italy it must comply with EU rules on approving generic drugs for marketing, after makers of these meds complained of delays in market access. Story

> Impax Laboratories ($IPXL) licensed AstraZeneca's ($AZN) migraine therapy Zomig in the U.S. for $130 million plus future royalties, aiming to build sales of the drug's nasal-spray formulation. Article

> Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) wrote the FDA to demand an explanation of employees' claims that they were harassed after blowing the whistle on device-approval shortfalls. More

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: CROs jump into 2012 with big contracting momentum. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Interesting to see that AZ will retreat to Boston and Cambridge, U.K. as it downsizes neuro R&D. Less has been more for Boston. | Follow @JohnCFierce

@FierceMedDev: French officials urge tougher EU rules after PIP affair. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: Alzheimer's spreads like an infection through a distorted protein. Columbia and Harvard made the finding. Huge. More | Follow @MarkHFierce

> UPDATED: AstraZeneca cutting 2,200 R&D jobs, slashing neuroscience in restructuring. News

> Pharma defeats biotech push for rapid approval program. Story

> Is Lilly betting the farm on its high-stakes Alzheimer's gamble? Article

> AB soars on promising survival data from Phase II tumor study. Piece

> Czechs beef up investment in biotech research. Item

Manufacturing News

> Roche plant spared from sale runs into GMP issues. More

> Pakistan drug manufacturers make plea for oversight. Story

> Amylin's OH plant prepped for Bydureon's U.S. debut. Article

Vaccines News

> Universal flu vaccine might be step closer. Story

> Study: Gardasil does not cause autoimmune disease. Article

> First hookworm vaccine enters clinical trials. More

> Ovarian cancer vaccine clinical trial begins enrollment. Item

> Evolving bacteria evade vaccines. Story

CRO News

> Lonza trouble may trigger big writedown at Ipsen. Article

> Pew pushes for better FDA oversight of global supply chain. More

> Analysts project red-hot Euro growth for CMO market. News

> Parexel plans more hires as it focuses on strategic players, biotech. Story

And Finally... Trouble in your team meeting? Someone's testosterone levels might be to blame. Report