ALSO NOTED: Emisphere fires CEO; Crucell in new antibody pact; Watson touts Phase III results; and much more...

> Chutes & Ladders: Emisphere Technologies has fired its chairman and CEO, Dr. Michael Goldberg, without citing a reason for his dismissal. Lewis Bender, senior vice president of business development, takes over in the interim. Report [1]

> Crucell has inked a development deal with Novo Nordisk to develop new antibodies. Release [2]

> Watson Pharmaceuticals announced positive top-line data from two Phase III studies ofsilodosin, its investigational drug being studied for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Release [3]

> BioMarin says its enzyme deficiency therapy Phenoptin has demonstrated positive results in a late-stage trial. Report [4]

> Chutes & Ladders: Ligand Pharmaceuticals has named John Higgins, the former CFO of Connetics, as its new CEO. Report [5]

> The FDA has granted a priority review to Provenge, Dendreon's prostate cancer therapy. Release [6]

> The FDA has given orphan drug status to Hana Bioscience's Marqibo, a cancer therapy. Release [7]

> The FDA has granted an orphan drug designation to two of Lux Biosciences' drug candidates. Lux specializes in ophthalmic diseases. Report [8]

> Ireland's Merrion Pharmaceuticals is touting the results of the latest study on its drug absorption technology. Release [9]

And Finally... A new genetic test may eventually replace the pap smear as a primary method for cervical cancer screening. Report [10]