> Bioheart of Sunrise, Florida, has rounded up $15 million in venture capital. Release
> Cellerant Therapeutics -- a FierceBiotech 2005 Fierce 15 company -- plans to begin human trials of its "purified" stem cell treatment for sickle cell disease early next year. Success here could widen the utility of stem cell therapies in cancer and autoimmune disease. Story
> A Merck executive testified that the company estimated that it would lose $500 million in annual revenue if it lost its fight to push warnings about potential cardiovascular risks out of "warnings" and into the "precautions" segment of the label. Feature
> Novoste has called off a $20 million merger with ONI Medical. Report
> Palatin Technologies of Cranbury, New Jersey, has received a $10 million payment from King Pharmaceuticals for their joint development of an experimental sexual dysfunction therapy. Release
> San Diego-based IDM Pharma announced it had successfully completed the first step in a Phase II trial of its experimental treatment for melanoma. Release
> DOV Pharmaceuticals said a compound it licensed to Merck for depression finished a Phase II trial with a 40 percent reduction in HAM-D scores. Release
> Indian officials say they'll have a national biotech strategy in place by the end of the year. Story
> Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology has raised $11.4 million in a private placement. Release
And Finally… There's no shortage of hypotheses about the link between diet and cancer, but there's little clinical data to back up the beliefs. Article