ALSO NOTED: FDA demands more data on Cipher drug; PolyHeme data delayed; and much more...

> Cipher Pharmaceuticals says the FDA has issued a new approvable letter for CIP-ISOTRETINOIN which includes a demand for new clinical data. Cipher says it will appeal the data demand. Release

> Northfield Laboratories' contract research organization has told the company that the summary data from its pivotal Phase III trauma trial with PolyHeme will not be complete until May. Release

> Regulators at the FDA noted that Glaxo's asthma drug Advair reduced exacerbations of COPD at high doses but had little effect on patient survival. An FDA advisory panel will meet Tuesday to discuss the new indication. Report

> Bayer has said it's already found €50 million in annual savings through its merger with Schering and is on its way to revealing €700 million more in savings by 2009. Report

> Pharmasset has lowered its IPO offering to 5 million shares priced at a range of $9 to $11 a share. Release

> LinkMed's portfolio company ONCOlog Medical is spinning off a part of its operations into a new portfolio company, Pharmacolog i Uppsala. The new company will develop systems to control the contents and concentration of pharmaceutical drugs and is taking over the rights to the DrugLog product. Release

> The Playstation 3 could turn out to be a powerful biomedical research tool. Article

And Finally… A series of new studies have found seven new genes linked to the most common form of diabetes. Article