ALSO NOTED: Schering-Plough touts trial; Novartis pain therapy wins approval; New study for HIV vaccine; and much more...

> Schering-Plough says that a mid-stage trial of its experimental oral thrombin receptor antagonist (TRA) demonstrated that the therapy was safe and did not increase major or minor bleeding in patients with acute coronary syndrome or prior ischemic stroke when added to standard antiplatelet therapy. Release

> Novartis' Voltaren Gel, a topical therapy developed for pain associated with osteoarthritis, has won FDA approval. Release

> Genzyme has won the FDA's approval of Renvela, a new version of its drug for chronic kidney disease. Release

> Inovio Biomedical and Ichor Medical Devices are planning the first human study to determine if Ichor's device can deliver an HIV vaccine into human cells. Report

> Raptor Pharmaceuticals has acquired its first clinical-stage product and launched a new subsidiary--Bennu Pharmaceuticals--to advance internally discovered drug candidates. Release

> Rockville MD-based Sequella says that the FDA and the EMEA have granted its lead drug program, SQ109, orphan drug status for the treatment of TB. Release

> The concerns about cough-and-cold meds for kids culminated Friday in an FDA advisory group vote against the products. Report

> Why should Medicare pay for Lucentis? Report

And Finally... Even as the overall cancer death rate is down, some cancers are killing more people. Article