ALSO NOTED: Zactima hits fast track; BioCryst inks licensing pact; and much more...

> AstraZeneca's cancer drug Zactima has been put on the FDA's fast track. Report [1]

> BioCryst and Mundipharma International have signed a licensing pact for Fodosine, currently in a Phase IIa trial involving patients with T-cell leukemia. In exchange for the marketing rights to several continents, Mundipharma will pay up to $25 million in development costs and $155 million in milestone payments along with additional royalties. Release [2]

> Solvay may cut up to 400 jobs in France. Report [3]

> Seattle-based NeoRx has lined up $65 million in private financing. The money was badly needed to continue its work on a new cancer therapy. Release [4]

> Shares of Valera Pharmaceuticals debuted at $9.15, below its projected range of $10 to $12. Release [5]

> Ista Pharmaceuticals reports that it hit primary and secondary endpoints in a Phase III bioequivalence trial of a combination therapy containing tobramycin and prednisolone acetate for steroid-responsive inflammatory ocular conditions where risk of bacterial infection exists. Release [6]

> Dr. Reddy's Laboratories and the U.K.'s Argenta Discovery have signed a collaboration deal to develop a new treatment for COPD. The companies will fund development through proof-of-concept and then decide to proceed or outlicense the compounds. Report [7]

> GlaxoSmithKline has received FDA approval for a new formulation of its migraine therapy. Report [8] 

> Watson Pharmaceuticals has received final approval from the FDA for a generic version of a testosterone treatment made by Solvay. Report [9]

> The FDA has approved Schering-Plough's 12-hour Clarinex extended-release tablet. Report [10]

> Eli Lilly has begun human trials of an experimental cancer therapy, triggering a $750,000 milestone payment to Isis Pharmaceuticals. Report [11]

> Although Pfizer has yet to announce how much it plans to charge for the newly approved inhaled insulin Exubera, analysts expect it will be four to five times as much as currently used injected therapies. For many patients, analysts add, that is likely to mean that the inhaled insulin, which should be easier to take and work faster than traditional therapies, will drop into a drug tier with higher priced therapeutics that will require a much higher out-of-pocket expense. Article [12]

> Eurand has begun the first of two Phase III clinical trials required for registration of its pancreatic enzyme product, EUR-1008M, in patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Release [13]

> AstraZeneca said that it boosted earnings in 2005 but was concerned that a generic challenge to Toprol XL could affect its performance this year. Report [14]

And Finally... After confirming that a chicken smuggled into Hong Kong had died from avian flu, disease experts raised new worries that Chinese officials may be covering up the true extent of the problem. Article [15]