> A key federal advisory group has endorsed Merck's cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil. The vote by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices makes it likely that the government will covering the cost of the shot. Insurers like Wellpoint have already begun to issue coverage approvals, setting up Gardasil as a blockbuster with an estimated potential of $3 billion a year. Report [1]
> Astellas has pulled the plug on the experimental immunosuppressant drug FK778 after disappointing Phase II data failed to demonstrate clear superiority over other therapies. Report [2]
> Skyepharma has licensed the European rights to DepoBupivacaine. Release [3]
> Par Pharmaceuticals has received FDA approval for a generic version of GSK's depression drug Parnate. Report [4]
> Eli Lilly and Company has licensed Admensa Interactive from Inpharmatica. Release [5]
And Finally… The backlash against Europe's animal rights activists has set in. Article [6]
Links:
[1] http://www.thestreet.com/_googlen/stocks/biotech/10294476.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA
[2] http://today.reuters.com/stocks/QuoteCompanyNewsArticle.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2006-06-30T020922Z_01_T165502_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-JAPAN-ASTELLAS-UPDATE-1.XML&rpc=66
[3] http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-30-2006/0004390153&EDATE=
[4] http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=governmentFilingsNews&storyID=2006-06-30T122420Z_01_WNAS1633_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-PARPHARMA-URGENT.XML
[5] http://www.pharmalive.com/News/index.cfm?articleid=354049&categoryid=15
[6] http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2006/06/28/animal_rights_extremists_face_backlash/