@FierceBiotech: MiddleBrook Pharma plans massive layoffs, CEO resigns. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Find it hard to believe Arena would go it alone on obesity drug launch. Sounds like talk to me, aimed at better deal terms. Follow @JohnCFierce
> Belgium's Ablynx has raised €50 million ($69 million) in a secondary offering of its stock. The developer will use the funding to support R&D and possibly for commercialization of certain products. Report
> BioSante Pharmaceuticals has received an orphan drug designation from the FDA for the GVAX pancreatic cancer vaccine. BioSante release
> Sigma-Aldrich has entered into an agreement with Pfizer through which it will sell approximately 100 Pfizer-developed small molecule compounds to life science researchers for target characterization, assay development, screening and in vivo animal model applications. Release
> Dynavax says Merck has made a $4 million payment to cover expenses for the wind down period that followed its December 2008 notification that Merck would end its pact for the hepatitis B drug Heplisav. Dynavax release
And Finally... While cosmetic surgery has been on the decline, less-expensive non-surgical treatments like Botox have held steady. Report