ALSO NOTED: CV drops ACEON promotion; Live from the 2006 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference;and much more...

> CV Therapeutics is bowing out of a co-promotion deal with Solvay Pharmaceuticals for marketing ACEON. CV says there are no financial obligations in the pact and that they will wrap up their involvement over the next few weeks. "We are excited to focus our promotional efforts on Ranexa, as we continue to see growing interest in the cardiology community," said Louis G. Lange, M.D., Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer of CV Therapeutics. Release 

> Live from the 2006 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference. Article

> The European Medicines Agency has recommended MediGene's EndoTAG-1 therapy for pancreatic cancer for orphan drug status. Report

> Bellicum Pharmaceuticals has licensed Ariad Pharmaceuticals' Argent cell-signaling regulating technology in exchange for an equity stake. Report

> Allergy Therapeutics says its mid-stage trial for a ragweed vaccine was a success. Report

> Genentech recorded a 58 percent increase in quarterly profits as sales of Lucentis soared. Report

> GSK is asking the FDA to approve the use of Advair Diskus for COPD. Report

> Adherex Technologies announced that GSK's option to license ADH-1 has expired and that it has regained full rights to the cancer compound. Release

> Alta Partners has rounded up $500 million for its eighth venture fund, one of the largest capital pools ever raised exclusively for healthcare. Report

> GenVec announced that it will receive up to $3.5 million in new funding to support the development and manufacture of novel adenovector-based HIV vaccines under its multi-year collaboration with the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health. Release

 > Aero Pharmaceuticals has acquired the entire line of Baker Cummins OTC dermatology products as well as U.S. rights to additional dermatology products from IVAX Laboratories. Release

And Finally…A new study in JAMA shows that immune system ailments such as psoriasis and RA significantly increase the risk of heart disease. Article