> Roxro Pharma announced it has received an Excellence and Innovation Award from the Committee on Scientific Papers of the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia for the Phase III data of the company's novel intranasal pain reliever ROX-888. Release
> Genentech has begun a mid-stage study of an experimental therapy for colon cancer, GDC-0449, triggering a $3 million milestone payment for Curis. Curis release
> Minerva Biotechnology says it has used its nanoparticle technology to elucidate a key molecular mechanism that is involved in cancer cell growth and metastasis. Minerva release
> Pfizer is starting to settle the thousands of lawsuits over painkillers Celebrex and Bextra. Pfizer report
> Outsourcing is still on roll--it's just not rolling quite as fast as it did last year, according to Contract Pharma's 2008 outsourcing survey. Outsourcing report
> Pharma needs to slap some raw steak on its black eye, Dr. Roy Vagelos said during a speech last week. Pharma's elder statesman--and ex-Merck CEO--says the drug industry has lost goodwill and credibility, and needs to get to work to repair its reputation. Report
> Should insurers be allowed to reward docs who switch patients to generics? That debate is going public in Colorado, where legislators have proposed a bill that would prohibit the practice. Report
And Finally… An outbreak of the lethal Enterovirus 71, or EV-71, has stricken more than 6,000 people in China and left 26 children dead. There is no vaccine available to contain EV-71, which triggers a severe form of hand, foot and mouth disease, according to the Wall Street Journal. Article