Tocagen raises $7.8M; ISTA gets PDUFA date;

 @FierceBiotech: Between 4Q07 and 4Q09, 25 percent of US public biotechs disappeared (half via M&A), says BIO. | Follow @FierceBiotech [1]

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> San Diego-based Tocagen has raised almost $7.8 million from 75 investors in a Series D round of financing. Article [3]

> The FDA has granted ISTA Pharmaceuticals NDA for XiDay a PDUFA date of October 16, 2010. The company's request for a shorter, six-month priority review is still under consideration by the agency. ISTA release [4]

> INSYS Therapeutics announced positive results from the pivotal phase III efficacy trial for patients utilizing the Fentanyl Sublingual Spray (SL Spray) technology to treat breakthrough cancer pain. INSYS release [5]

> Amgen plans to sell $1 billion of senior notes in a two-part sale, reported IFR, a Thomson Reuters service. Report [6]

> Stirling Pharma, an Australian group, has taken over North Sydney-based Keata Pharma for about $3.6 million. Report [7]

And Finally... More than 100 researchers teamed up over two years pieced together a genetic blueprint of the bacteria that's found in the human digestive tract. Article [8]