Cephalon ends Alkermes pact; Duramed wins FDA OK;

> Cephalon has agreed to pay Alkermes $11 million to end their collaboration on Vivitrol for alcohol dependence. Alkermes regains full commercialization rights. Story

> The FDA has approved Duramed Pharmaceuticals' new drug application for a new vaginal cream. Report

> FDA staffers say that Novartis' Coartem, a combination pill for malaria, appears safer than older drugs already on the market. Report

> Vical earned a $1 million milestone on Merck's decision to start an early-stage trial of a new cancer vaccine. Story

> GeoVax Labs announced today that the launch of its Phase IIa human vaccine trials will take place in twelve sites across North and South America. Release

> The FDA will give Cell Therapeutics' request for expanded use of the cancer drug Zevalin a priority review. Report

> A much-lamented ban on new kidney cancer drugs in the U.K. will soon be lifted, the Guardian reports. Report

> Does Chris Viehbacher's (photo) advent as CEO of Sanofi-Aventis signal that buyout deals may soon be in the works? Analysts say yes. Report

> We've heard a lot about insurers and other payers pushing patients to use generics rather than brand-name meds, and how that pressure hampers Big Pharma. But there's a flip side to that coin. Report

> As expected, the European Union socked it to pharma in a new industry-sector report, saying that drugmakers' business strategies have added billions to healthcare costs. Report

And Finally... Biologists at The University of Nottingham and University College Dublin have announced a major breakthrough in our understanding of the sex life of a microscopic fungus which is a major cause of death in immune deficient patients and also a cause of severe asthma. Release