> Novartis has told Orion Corp.--which put out a press release--that Stalevo has produced positive data in a late-stage Parkinson's trial. Release
> Analysts are bullish about Genzyme's aggressive position in the orphan drug market. Its approach has paid off with a 22 percent increase in sales during the fourth quarter. Article
> Italy's Philogen has decided against getting on the public market roller coaster. The developer is postponing its IPO, citing "market conditions." Report
> In a pipeline update, BioCryst says that it is now "planning to initiate a Phase II clinical trial that will evaluate the 300mg dose and a higher dose of peramivir later this year. As a result, BioCryst will not continue to pursue a pivotal Phase III program for i.m. peramivir in the current influenza season." Release
> Italy's Gentium says that an interim analysis of late-stage data on Defibrotide for veno-occlusive disease demonstrated no safety concerns. Release
> When Johnson & Johnson announced that it would create a so-called "Office of Strategy and Growth," there wasn't much detail to be had. Now, the new chief of that office, Nick Valeriani, has spoken to the Star-Ledger about his new task. Report
> Remember how the American Heart Association rushed to the defense of Vytorin after the results of the Enhance study were released last week? Well, now several news outlets are pointing out that the association gets almost $2 million annually from Merck and Schering-Plough. Report
> Yesterday, Gilead Sciences saw its four key patents on its anti-HIV med Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, also found in the Atripla combo pill) declared invalid. Report
> Researchers have made a key breakthrough in the quest to discover a vaccine or therapy to cure the deadly ebola virus. Report
And Finally… By transplanting stem cells from donors' bone marrow, kidney recipients were able to live without needing to take a steady regimen of immunosuppressive drugs. The new approach could revolutionize the entire field. Article