ALSO NOTED: Merck scientist calls FDA comment a joke; LAB inks sale-lease back deal; ExonHit, bioMerieux extend collaboration;

> Merck's former research chief told a jury that his description of FDA regulators as "Grade D high school students" was meant as an inside joke. Article

> Canada's LAB International has inked a sale-lease back deal that will net it $2.7 million. Release

> bioMerieux and ExonHit have agreed to extend their collaboration for six years for the discovery and development of new blood diagnostics in early cancer detection. Release

> Arginox Pharmaceuticals has received orphan status for its cardiogenic shock therapy. Release

> Chutes & Ladders: Neurotech has named Ted Danse as its new president and CEO. Release

> Speedel has started a Phase I safety and tolerability trial for one of its renin inhibitors, SPP635. Release

> France's Transgene has signed a deal to manufacture a Hepatitis B vaccine for Belgium's Innogenetics. Release

And Finally… The FDA is considering approving a rapid home-test for AIDS as suicide fears are calmed. Report