Discovery Labs hunts for new funding; Shionogi seeks approval for Peramivir;

> Discovery Labs is on the lookout for new funds needed to advance its experimental therapies. Story [1]

> Shionogi has applied for regulatory approval to sell BioCryst's influenza drug Peramivir in Japan. Story [2]

> The FDA has agreed to provide a priority review for Shire's candidate for Gaucher disease, cutting the review of velaglucerase alfa from 10 months to six. Report [3]

> France's Flamel Technologies says that Pfizer has exercised its option to license Flamel's Medusa technology for the development of a controlled release formulation of an already-marketed therapeutic protein. Flamel's release [4]

> Aerovance has completed patient enrollment in a Phase IIb clinical trial of the inhaled dry powder formulation of Aerovant for the treatment of uncontrolled asthma. Top-line results are expected by the second quarter of 2010. Release [5]

Pharma

> Where will J&J's layoffs hit hardest? J&J report [6]

> Novartis has upped the ante in China. Today, the Swiss drugmaker said it was buying an 85 percent chunk of the Chinese vaccines maker Zhejiang Tianyuan for $125 million. And that's just one-tenth of what Novartis is planning to spend on beefing up R&D in the country. Novartis report [7]

> Schering-Plough is no more. The $41 billion Merck merger wrapped up yesterday, and the sun rose today on a combined company that's the world's second-biggest drugmaker. Merck news [8]

> Another day, another drug-marketing settlement. Omnicare, which provides pharmacy services to nursing homes, agreed to pay $98 million to settle allegations that it accepted and asked for kickbacks, the U.S. Justice Department announced. Article [9]

Manufacturing News

> Australian drug maker QRxPharma has enlisted New Jersey-based contract manufacturer Patheon to manufacture clinical supplies of a controlled-release pain relief formulation, MoxDuo CR. Report [10]

> While it's clear that manufacturing practice missteps can have financial consequences, it turns out that manufacturing capacity issues can have political consequences. Report [11]

> CGMP violations can continue to sting long after the warning letter arrives. Caraco Pharmaceutical, for example, which continues its push toward regulatory compliance in an effort to resume manufacturing in Detroit, saw sales drop 36 percent to $78.4 million, in the last quarter, thanks in part to its FDA-mandated manufacturing halt and drug seizures. Article [12]

> Procter & Gamble has been cited for the illegal marketing of combinations of dietary ingredients and drugs. P&G story [13]

And Finally...Younger people may be more vulnerable to catching swine flu, but older patients are suffering from a higher risk of death. Report [14]