> U.S.-based ANI Pharmaceuticals ($ANIP) reached an agreement with Australia's IDT on a plan to commercialize up to 18 previously marketed U.S. generic drug products, paying $1 million for exclusive rights in the North American market. Release
> Japan's Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha has agreed to a share transfer deal to buy Germany's Icon Genetics to expand its vaccine and diagnostic reagents business, enabling the company to develop a norovirus and other vaccines. Release (PDF)
> Nasdaq-listed Sinovac Biotech ($SVA) said its severe hand, foot and mouth vaccine candidate, EV71, has completed China FDA site and GMP inspections which will be followed by sample testing, according to its second quarter result statement released on Aug. 12. "Once the results of the inspection are available and the sample vaccine has passed the required testing, the CFDA will conduct a comprehensive review of the vaccine. Upon approval, the CFDA will then issue the new drug certificate, and production and GMP licenses." Release
> Expanded access to hypertension drugs could cut about 800,000 cardiovascular disease events every year in China, according to a modeling study published in PLOS Medicine cited by AsianScientist. The study said that about 325 million adults in China have hypertension but less than half are aware of their condition and only 34% of those with the condition are treated with antihypertensive drugs. Report
> Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has updated its organization chart in English-language format and issued an accompanying pamphlet on how the ministry covers healthcare policy in the country as well as other duties. Chart (PDF)
> Researchers at China's Shanghai Jiao Tong University have made a breakthrough in the design of a microneedle patch to ease the discomfort of injections to deliver insulin to patients, China Daily reports. Report