> LSP BioVentues has led a $10 million Series C equity investment round in Woburn, MA-based BioProcessors Corporation. The company provides micro-engineered solutions for biopharmaceutical process development applications for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Release
> The FDA has given priority review status to Regeneron's experimental therapy for a rare inflammatory disease called Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (or CAPS). According to Regeneron, the agency should make a decision on rilonacept by the end of November. There are no current therapies for CAPS, which is caused by a rare genetic mutation that afflicts 200 to 500 people in the U.S. Release
> FermaVir is touting positive data from preclinical studies of an experimental therapy for shingles. Release
> Galapagos says its service division, BioFocus DPI, has entered into a new drug discovery collaboration with AstraZeneca. This collaboration involves BioFocus DPI performing medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry and supporting biology and ADMET services for AstraZeneca's Infection discovery program based in Boston. Release
> Biomira and Merck KGaA have amended their deal on the cancer vaccine Stimuvax giving Merck global marketing rights and responsibility for further development. Release
> Bristol-Myers Squibb said that the FDA has accepted its supplemental biologics license application for Orencia for the treatment of pediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis who had an inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying anti- rheumatic drugs. Report
> According to The New York Times, the industry is on the leading edge of a "tidal wave of generic drugs," as a plethora of blockbuster meds begin to go off patent. FiercePharma
> The famed AIDS scientist Dr. Robert Gallo of the University of Maryland's Institute of Human Virology has won a $15 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to pursue his work on an AIDS vaccine. FierceBioResearcher
And Finally... Is Pfizer's pipeline strong enough to help the company keep its edge in drug development? Poll