> Shares of Denmark's Genmab took a hit after a review of interim data failed to make the case for an early end to its pivotal trial for zalutumumab (HuMax-EGFr) in head and neck cancer. Release | Report
> The CEO of Vasogen, which put itself on the block last April, says the company is intensely focused on finishing its strategic review. Vasogen axed 85 percent of its staff last spring. Story
> Sigma-Aldrich has acquired Seppro affinity depletion technology and a library of 700 avian-derived antibodies from GenWay Biotech. Release
> Chimerix, has completed a single and multi-dose Phase I study of CMX001 in healthy volunteers. Chimerix release
> Pharmacyclics has received a $5 million loan from Robert W. Duggan & Associates. Release l Report
> AstraZeneca's MedImmune submitted a new drug application in Europe to market its nasal spray flu vaccine, according to a company press release. The FDA approved the same nasal spray in 2003, which AstraZeneca markets as FluMist in the United States. Report
> Barack Obama has offered the Surgeon General position to CNN medical correspondent and neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta, reports the Washington Post. Although Gupta has not released a statement thus far, two anonymous sources for the post said they expect he will accept Obama's offer. Report
> A new study says people more people taking Fosamax (alendronate) might be at risk for developing major problems with their jaws than scientists believed before, according to findings published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association. Fosamax report
> The best selling drug in the world received a boost yesterday that will allow Pfizer to maintain its patent expiration date, currently set for June 2011. Lipitor report
> Taro Pharmaceutical Industries has shot down yet another buyout proposition from Sun Pharmaceuticals. With Sun's tender offer still on the table, the two were ordered to reach a settlement outside of court. Report
> A group of Canadian scientists has developed new tests that can be used to distinguish between normal, healthy stem cells and cancer-causing stem cells. Cancer test report
> Some prominent researchers at the University of Miami have identified nine genes that are likely to raise the risk of Alzheimer's, taking one more stride toward the day when people can accurately assess their risk of the disease and take action to avoid it. Alzheimer's report
> A team of scientists at MIT has come up with a new and much more efficient process to pair cells in the lab. Current methods used to fuse cells generally work about 10 percent of the time. But the team was able to increase the success rate to 50 percent by designing new cell-capturing cups that automatically pair up different types of cells for fusion. Stem cell report
And Finally... Bioengineer Fiorenzo Omenetto at Tufts University is using silkworm cocoons to develop new biosensors that can be inserted into patients and used as a tracking device to monitor a person's post-surgical progress or a chronic disease like diabetes. Report