> The FDA issued an "approvable" letter for Bristol-Myers Squibb's Pargluva but wants more safety data before it allows the drug to be marketed. An expert panel had recommended approval despite staff concerns about cardiovascular problems. Report
> Genentech has decided to abandon studies of a combined regimen of Tarceva and Avastin for kidney cancer after finding the response rate was similar to Avastin alone. Article
> Germany's Schering is taking a 15 percent equity stake in Sonus Pharmaceuticals in exchange for the global license to its Tocosol Paclitaxel cancer drug. Report
> Xencor of Monrovia, CA, recently closed on a $20 million venture round led by Zen Investments. Release
> Kosan Biosciences dropped a Phase II trial of a cancer drug after too few patients responded to treatment. Report
> GSK's Havrix has gained expanded approval for use in preventing hepatitis A in children 12 months and older. Release
> Eli Lilly says that an experimental anti-clotting drug in development with Sankyo outperformed Plavix in head-to-head tests. Report
> The University of Minnesota plans to pull licenses to its gene therapy work from the startup Discovery Genomics after the company failed to meet funding benchmarks. Article
> Chutes & Ladders: Zelos Therapeutics has named Brian MacDonald, MB, ChB, PhD, as CEO. Release
And Finally... Voters in California are being presented with rival drug plans for the poor. Article