Immunomedics forges $580M pact; Cardiome shares surge on data;

> Immunomedics will get $40 million up front and up to $580 million in total from a new licensing deal with Nycomed. The deal covers Immunomedics' veltuzumab, a humanized anti-CD20 antibody in the subcutaneous formulation for the treatment of all non-cancer indications. Nycomed will develop veltuzumab in rheumatoid arthritis as the primary indication. Release [1]

> Shares of Cardiome Pharma were on the rise today after the developer released positive Phase IIb data on oral vernakalant. Report [2]

> DynPort and Quintiles have won a $32.3 million contract from a division of the NIH for Phase I trials of infectious disease therapies. Report [3]

> Germany's SuppreMol GmbH has closed a EUR 15.7 million Series B financing round. The money will be used to advance its lead product SM101, a recombinant human soluble Fc-gamma receptor IIb, for the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura to proof-of-concept in humans. Release [4]

> A new biotech and biofuel incubator at the University of North Dakota has been lining up tenants. Report [5]

> A British newspaper is reporting that SkyePharma is in talks to conduct a debt-for-equity swap. Report [6]

> The European Commission has granted orphan medical product designation to Hana Biosciences' Marqibo for the treatment of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Release [7]

> Ranbaxy Laboratories found itself in hot water with the feds late last week, just days after announcing its merger deal with Japanese giant Daiichi Sankyo. U.S. investigators and the FDA apparently have been probing the Indian generics maker for months, investigating whether it fabricated data and made false claims to get drugs approved for U.S. sale. Report [8]

> Israeli generics giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries is suffering a couple of Copaxone-related headaches. Report [9]

> Last week, the pharma industry set out new guidelines [10] for marketing to doctors. This weekend, psychiatrists will take a look at drugmaker-doctor ties from the other direction--and if a preview in the New York Times is any indication, it's likely to be a contentious meeting. Report [11]

> For the next new frontier in psychotropic drug sales, look no further than your best friend Rover. Report [12]

And Finally... Ethan Weiss and colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, have used a mouse model of thrombosis to shed new light on why males have a higher risk of developing the condition. Release [13]