Bayer on the prowl for weaker prey; Northwest Bio in funding talks;

> Bayer appears to be working under Warren Buffett's market-turmoil philosophy: Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful. The German conglomerate's healthcare unit says it's in an ideal position to capitalize on frightened markets, and it plans to take advantage of the financial stress by snapping up weaker companies. Report

> The troubled Northwest Biotherapeutics says that it is in advanced talks regarding its funding needs. Report

> Could Big Pharma ease some of its ills if it just managed itself better? Ernst & Young says drugmakers could free up to $35 billion in working capital just by improving their management of payments and inventories. Report

> UK investment group Excalibur says that 'transforming' deals could still be achieved in the biotech sector despite the most severe market conditions. Excalibur release

> Sanofi-Aventis' French sales reps aren't happy right now. The company said it would cut 817 from its French sales ranks, about one-third of its present force. Sanofi report

> Moving forward with its restructuring plan, GlaxoSmithKline announced that it would be laying off as many as 850 employees in its research and development units in the U.K. and in the U.S. GSK report

> Roche says the strangled credit markets won't hamper its financing for a $43.7 billion takeover of Genentech. A Roche spokesman maintains the company's confidence in its ability "to raise the required financing," echoing assurances Roche CEO Severin Schwan gave the markets a couple of weeks ago. Roche article

> Lentigen is expanding its partnership with the U.S. Army to explore the biodefense applications of lentiviral vectors. Report

> Celldex Therapeutics has earned a $10 million milestone from an affiliate of Paul Capital. Celldex release

> Pfizer is steadily expanding its presence in the stem cell field. The Wall Street Journal notes that in November the pharma giant will open a regenerative medicine shop in Cambridge, England. Report

Industry Voices: How to get the most out of your CRO. Article

And Finally... With the heat on to monitor the safety of vaccines, the CDC is calling for a new electronic system that can swiftly gather reports of adverse events from around the country. FierceVaccines