ALSO NOTED: Ambrilia touts data; Amarin raises $60M; and much more...

Wed, 14 May 2008 06:59:50 -0400

> Ambrilia Biopharma reported positive 24-week Phase III top-line results for prolonged-release formulation of Octreotide. Release

> Amarin is raising $60 million through a stock placement. Release

> Acorda Therapeutics CEO Ron Cohen has exercised stock options for 31,432 shares. Report

> A federal proposal requiring drug and device makers to disclose payments to doctors got a boost yesterday when Eli Lilly became the first Big Pharma to back it. Lilly report

> In an interesting twist on the usual generics news, it's the copycat makers who are predicted to suffer as competitors undercut their products. The source of this competition? None other than China. Generics report

> The NIH's Avastin/Lucentis trial could fundamentally reshape relations between payers and pharma, according to IMS Health. Report

> After weeks of pressure from Congress to request more money for the agency--and weeks of refusals to specify a figure for beefing up FDA's safety operations-FDA commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach has asked lawmakers for $275 million. FDA report

And Finally... South Korean officials have wiped out the poultry population of Seoul in an effort to combat the spread of the avian flu virus. Report

ALSO NOTED: Phyton cuts staff; Alzheimer's: A new indication for Enbrel?; and much more...

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:59:50 -0500

> According to research released today, the anti-rheumatoid arthritis med Enbrel has shown an amazing ability to rehabilitate Alzheimer's patients. Report

> Phyton Biotech, based in Princeton, NJ, is laying off 47 workers. Phyton manufactures the cancer drug paclitaxel. There's no word yet on what triggered the cuts. Report

> Amarin says it will launch a mid-stage study of its age-associated memory impairment drug AMR101. Report

> The transplant drug sirolimus demonstrated efficacy against a rare lung condition and may be able to improve lung function as well, according to a new study. Release

> A new type of meningococcal vaccine proved effective in combating four strains of the disease in all age groups, leading Novartis researchers to believe that they may be onto the first such vaccine that can be made available to babies. Report

> A new study appears to fully sever the alleged link between the mercury-containing thimerosal and autism. Report

> As part of its infamous prosecution of Pfizer, a Nigerian court has issued warrants for eight Pfizer officials. Report

And Finally... A universal flu vaccine may be on the horizon. Report