> Bio-Rad Laboratories, which makes research and diagnostics products for the life sciences industry, plans to raise $250 million through the sale of senior subordinated notes and use the money to fund new acquisitions. Report
> The fight for control of Amylin Pharmaceuticals is heating up as various shareholder advisory groups weigh in with their recommendations on an upcoming board vote. Report
> Novartis and Schering-Plough have restructured their development pact on respiratory drugs, with Novartis taking responsibility for a new combo therapy for COPD and asthma. Story
> Agennix announced today that talactoferrin alfa has been granted fast track status by the FDA for the first-line treatment of renal cell carcinoma in combination with sunitinib. Agennix release
> Cardiome Pharma says the waiting period is over and it can now pocket $60 million as its pact with Merck formally takes effect. Report
> Ireland's Opsona Therapeutics has raised an extra 3.3 million euros in a Series B. Report
> Fresh on the heels of its takeover of Genentech, Roche is preparing to take the stage at ASCO later this month to tout its continuing sucess in developing targeted cancer therapies. Report
> Stockholm-based Contur Software has unveiled a high-end electronic laboratory notebook system available online. The iLabber SaaS system builds on the company's server-based lab notebook solution, ConturELN, but saves users the cost of hardware and maintenance. Report
> Axela has released dotLab system software that provides technical controls to support compliance with 21 CFR Part 11 regulations. Report
> Reeling from a 69 percent drop in fourth-quarter profits, Medtronic says it's going to slash 1,500 to 1,800 jobs as part of an effort to streamline its operations. Report
> Sorry, pharma, but when it comes to drugs, newer doesn't always mean better. So why are new drugs prescribed so often? Especially in a disease where an old treatment is actually the so-called "gold standard?" That's what a psychiatrist asks in a New York Times article today. Report
> Merck is fighting a class action suit over its long-withdrawn painkiller Vioxx; the case is now being tried in Australian Federal Court. The latest: A claim that Merck paid nurses to comb through patient records for potential Vioxx customers, and gave pharmacists incentives to recommend Vioxx to patients using rival drugs. Report
> Two whistleblower suits against Wyeth just gained some heavyweight clout. The U.S. Justice Department and 16 states have joined the lawsuits, which accuse Wyeth of defrauding the government by discounting Protonix for hospitals without offering the same price breaks to Medicaid. Report
> Now it's Japan's turn--to feel the approaching patent cliff, that is. Whereas U.S. and European pharma has been suffering under generic competition--and the threat thereof--for several years now, the pain is just beginning in Japan, the Financial Times reports today. And investors are watching. Report
And Finally... At this point, the new flu is believed to be in almost all 50 states and spreading rapidly around the world. A New Yorker has died from swine flu and Japan is one of a number of countries trying desperately to contain the outbreak as the virus infects a growing number of schoolchildren. And now it turns out that vaccine developers won't be able to start production on a new vaccine until mid-July as scientists discover that its more difficult than expected to create seed stock. Report