ALSO NOTED: iCardiac gains venture funds; Sirtris reports rising R&D expenses; Nanogen slashes staff; and much more...

> iCardiac Technologies, which has advanced new technology to assess drug safety, has announced a second round of venture capital but is staying mum about just how much money it is getting. Release [1]

> Sirtris says that rising R&D costs have pushed up losses at the company. Report [2]

> Nanogen, a diagnostics company, is closing its microarray business and slashing 20 percent of its staff. Report [3]

> Scientists at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation are reporting success in advancing an experimental, preclinical vaccine that can prevent or slow Alzheimer's. Report [4]

> Roche has signed a licensing pact for hepatitis C immunodiagnostics with Novartis and Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, which is owned by J&J. Roche will gain royalties and three agreed to settle patent litigation. Report [5]

> The FDA has put Crucell's program for a rabies monoclonal antibody cocktail on the agency's fast track. Release [6]

> Big Pharma is lobbying hard to stop legislation aimed at getting generics into patients' hands more quickly. Report [7]

> Put a Genentech executive and a bunch of angry ophthalmologists in the same room, and what do you get? Fireworks. Report [8]

> Just why are U.S. attorneys interested in Amgen? That's the question, now that news is emerging that the feds have subpoenaed documents. Report [9]

And Finally... Pollution from marine shipping causes approximately 60,000 premature cardiopulmonary and lung cancer deaths around the world each year, according to a new report. Release [10]