ALSO NOTED: Investors back Sequenom; Inspire meets with FDA; and much more...

> A group of investors have agreed to buy $30 million of Sequenom stock. The money will be used as working capital for Sequenom, which makes biotech research equipment. Report [1]

> Inspire Pharmaceuticals met with the FDA to discuss its approvable letter for its dry eye clinical program for diquafosol. Release [2]

> Optimer Pharmaceuticals has launched Phase III trials of OPT-99 for bacterial gastroenteritis. Release [3]

> YM BioSciences says its partner, Oncoscience, has been cleared by German regulators to initiate a Phase III trial of nimotuzumab in combination with radiation in children with inoperable pontine (brain stem) glioma. Release [4]

> BioFocus, a unit of Galapagos, has inked a deal to supply chemical compounds to Roche for the next three years. Report [5]

> Immunicon has extended its R&D agreement with Pfizer for detecting antigens on tumor cells. Release [6]

> BG Medicine will conduct a joint biomarker program for muscle toxicity with Mitsubishi Pharma. Release [7]

> The FDA has added six months of market exclusivity to Cephalon's Provigil. Release [8]

And Finally… British doctor Jeremy Farrar has more first hand experience dealing with bird flu cases than anyone else, and he believes fears of a pandemic are at least somewhat overblown. Article [9]