FDA approves Cleviprex; Expression Genetics secures VC funds;

> The FDA has approved Cleviprex--an intravenous blood pressure drug--from The Medicines Company. Story [1]

> Expression Genetics has completed its $12-million Series B financing. The final, $7 million portion of the financing was secured in July. The money will be used to fund the clinical development of its lead product--the cancer therapeutic EGEN-001--and to further advance its development of delivery technologies for siRNA and shRNA. Release [2]

> Affymetrix says it will close its manufacturing facility in West Sacramento and relocate the operations to Singapore. Report [3]

> The new execs taking control at MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals may move the company from Maryland to Texas. Report [4]

> Los Altos, CA-based Interkrin Therapeutics has secured $18.25 million of a 26.14 million Series C. Story [5]

> Two drugmakers' hometown newspapers offer a rundown on the litigation they face over sales tactics: For AstraZeneca, it's allegations of improperly marketing Seroquel, and for Abbott, more claims over its pricing of the AIDS med Norvir. Report [6]

> Analysts just can't get their minds off which drugmakers might make a deal next. The most recent suspects are Bayer and Onyx, which are partnered on the liver and kidney cancer med Nexavar [7]. Report [8]

> hould HIV drugs be used to prevent infection with the deadly virus? Given the fact that vaccine developers have to start all over on their anti-HIV shot [9], and microbicides haven't shown much promise either, prophylactic use of antiretroviral drugs seems like a logical choice. Report [10]

> GaxoSmithKline is doing some fancy number-crunching in an attempt to get the U.K. to cover its cancer med Tyverb [11] (sold as Tykerb in the U.S.). According to the Financial Times, GSK is working on a pioneering deal that would cap the cost of Tyverb--no matter how many patients sign on to use it. GSK report [12]

And Finally... Overall, job prospects for new college grads are bleak, but hiring in biotechnology remains strong. Article [13]