ALSO NOTED: FDA OKs human thrombin; A new cancer research company; Compugen inks drug pact; and much more...

> Shares of Omrix surged this morning on the news that the FDA had approved Evithrom, a protein used to control bleeding during surgery. This is the first human thrombin to gain approval since the '50s. Report

> Cancer Therapeutics CRC has begun operations by billing itself as one of the largest public/private partnerships of its type in the world. Working with AUD$148 million in funding over seven years, including AUD$37.6 million from the Australian Commonwealth Government, "CTx addresses the gap between Australia's excellent academic cancer research base and its ability to discovery and develop new drugs to treat cancer." Release

> Israel's Compugen says it has inked a research collaboration and commercialization option with Teva for its chronic inflammatory disease treatment candidate CGEN-54. Release

> Neuro-Hitech has named Dr. Gary Shearman president and CEO. Release

> CuraGen and TopoTarget have initiated patient dosing in a Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating belinostat (PXD101) in combination with the anthracycline idarubicin for the treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Release

> Biogen Idec says another month has gone by with no new reported cases of PML among Tysabri patients. PML is a rare brain disease that has been linked to the MS therapy. FiercePharma

> The FDA has accepted the marketing application from Merck and Schering-Plough for a drug combining allergy and asthma blockbusters Claritin and Singulair. FiercePharma

And Finally... A longevity gene may be the key to living past 100. Report