ALSO NOTED: Novartis sinks$816.5M into Italian vaccine plant; GSK, Astellas take a pass on Theravance's drugs; and much more...

> Novartis is pledging to sink €600 million ($816.5 million) into new and expanded facilities in Italy. FiercePharma

> GlaxoSmithKline won't exercise its option to license Theravance's Gastrointestinal Motility Dysfunction program, and Astellas Pharma has also decided not to license TD-1792 under the terms of the companies' 2005 agreement. Release

> GTC Biotherapeutics said that the FDA has given ATryn a Fast Track designation entitled to accelerated FDA review for the hereditary antithrombin deficiency indication. Report

> Senator Charles Grassley said he would, and now he has: The Republican introduced a bill Thursday that would require drug and medical device makers to report almost every cent they pay to doctors. FiercePharma

> Prominent British cardiac surgeon Magdi Yacoub says that he believes that scientists will quickly perfect the use of adult stem cells for growing a complete new ventricle for transplant, with human trials coming in three to five years. Report

> Researchers have found that a grape skin extract plays a key role in fighting prostate cancer. Report

And Finally... Merck can now say "Whew!" when the words "class action" are mentioned. Report