ALSO NOTED: AIDS vaccine researchers years away from success; Amgen reports earnings; and much more...

> Following a series of major setbacks trying to develop a vaccine for AIDS, pessimistic researchers say they're years away from success. Report [1]

> AstraZeneca and Amgen have posted their earnings. Earnings report [2]

> FDA inspectors found 49 problems at Merck's West Point, PA, vaccine plant--problems independent experts called "serious concerns." Merck report [3]

> Sanofi-Aventis announced that small amounts of an impurity have been found in batches of its heparin injection Lovenox. Sanofi report [4]

> You can't say Takeda Pharmaceutical is unwilling to take risks. The Japanese drugmaker went out on an $8.8 billion limb in bidding for the U.S. biotech Millennium Pharmaceuticals. Investors weren't impressed; they dragged share prices down by 8 percent almost immediately. Report [5]

> After more than a decade of attempts, it looks like Congress might finally pass a bill that would block health insurers from denying coverage to otherwise healthy persons based on their genetic predisposition to come down with a particular disease. Report [6]

> GSK is confident it can prevail in vaccine battle. Report [7]

> Genocea Biosciences has been recognized as the best vaccine startup company at a meeting of the World Vaccine Congress in Washington D.C. Report [8]

And Finally... The Democratic Party may not have its nominee yet, but Big Pharma apparently does. At a mock election this week at the DTC National Conference, Barack Obama trounced Hillary Clinton with 59 percent of the vote to her 40 percent. Election report [9]