ALSO NOTED: Isis touts Phase II data; Neurocrine upbeat on trial outcome; and much more...

> Isis Pharmaceuticals reports that a mid-stage trial of ISIS 301012 produced rapid and prolonged reduction of cholesterol in patients with high cholesterol. Report [1]

> Neurocrine Biosciences has reported positive results for a Phase II trial of NBI-56418 for endometriosis. Release [2]

> Aradigm has gained more time and money to develop a treatment for anthrax. Report [3]

> InterMune has launched a Phase III trial of pirfenidone, a small molecule p38-gamma inhibitor, as a treatment for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Release [4]

> A week after its merger with Chiron, Novartis is laying off 111 workers in Emeryville, CA, a fraction of the employees it now has there. Report [5]

> Doctors Without Borders has accused Abbott Laboratories of failing to fill an order for the HIV/AIDS drug Kaletra. Report [6]

> Biotie Therapies has signed a marketing and distribution agreement with Britannia Pharmaceuticals Limited for nalmefene in the UK and Ireland. Release [7]

And Finally… A significant minority of Pfizer's shareholders demonstrated their displeasure with the pay packages handed out to top executives, but had zero net effect on the election of 13 directors. Article [8]