> Lexington, MA-based Synta Pharmaceuticals and Roche have signed a licensing deal for a preclinical anti-inflammatory compound, according to an SEC filing. Synta gets $25 million up front and up to $1 billion in milestone payments if the drug makes it to market. Report
> Cytos will receive an undisclosed milestone payment following Pfizer's decision to license vaccines based on Cytos' immunodrug technology. The two companies signed a deal back in August that gave Pfizer the option to license the programs. Report
> Novartis is forking over $20 million up front to license AlphaVax's investigational Cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine program. Vaccine report
> The FDA has decided that Salix Pharmaceuticals will have to run another "adequate and well-controlled clinical trial" before it can approve the company's ulcerative colitis tablet balsalazide. Salix report
> The FDA has approved the first new advanced prostate cancer treatment in four years. Degarelix--made by Ferring Pharmaceuticals--is an injectable gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist. Report
> With the fearsome "patent cliff" year of 2011 approaching fast, drugmakers are working feverishly to replace the billions in revenue that could disappear overnight when big drugs like Lipitor go off patent. And while 2009 won't be as big a year for blockbuster patent expirations, more than a few brands will lose protection this year. Patent report
> What do drugmakers, medical schools, researchers, clinics and doctors have in common? They're all under the same magnifying glass. And they're all facing the prospect of Congress mandating the disclosure of their financial interrelationships. Report
> Drugmakers spent much of 2008 hooking up with competitors, partners and biotech upstarts. Credit markets allowing, they'll continue to make deals this year. In fact, the pace of buyouts is likely to increase, experts tell us, because several big drugmakers are sitting on piles of cash, while acquisition targets have seen their prices erode and erode some more. Cheap prices plus ready money, in their view, equals M&A. Report
> In less than three weeks, a new president takes over, bringing a fresh wave of leadership at Health and Human Services and the FDA. President-elect Obama's pick for HHS chief--Tom Daschle--signals his intent to tackle healthcare reform in spite of economic distress. And the word on his search for FDA chief indicates that major change could be afoot. Report
And Finally... The FDA has approved another indication for Allergan's seven-year old drug Lumigan (bimatoprost). Doctors and patients noticed that the glaucoma treatment had the unusual side effect of lengthening and thickening eyelashes. Now the drugmaker will begin selling the treatment for $120 for a 30-day supply. Report