ALSO NOTED: Targeted Genetics buys Sirna's share of program; Indevus in $21M licensing deal;Atrium Innovations sells division;

> Targeted Genetics has bought out Sirna's share of a Huntington's disease program three years after the partnership began. The deal follows Merck's buyout of Sirna at the end of last year. Targeted Genetics gains exclusive rights in return for a share of royalties from any future sales. Release

> Orion has licensed the European rights to Indevus Pharmaceuticals' prostate cancer therapy Vantas in a deal that's worth up to $21 million in upfront licensing fees and sales milestones. Indevus gets $7 million upfront with $14 million for certain sales goals. And Orion has agreed to buy a minimum amount of the therapy from Indevus. Already approved in the U.S. and U.K., a number of European countries are considering regulatory approval of Vantas as well. The therapy is implanted in prostate cancer patients, releasing a therapy over the course of 12 months. Report

> Atrium Innovations has inked a deal to sell its active ingredients and specialty chemicals division to AXA Private Equity for about $165 million. Report

> U.K. regulators are indicating that some major obstacles still stand in the way of approving Biopure's artificial blood product. They say that pharmacological and clinical issues remain unresolved about five months after the company filed for approval. Story

> Urigen Pharmaceuticals announced that it has terminated the development and license agreement for intranasal testosterone. Report

> In a bid to diversify its business away from traditional pharma, Novartis has bought a 25 percent stake in Alcon and is eyeing the purchase of another 52 percent in 2010. Report

> Drug companies appear to be close to gaining a long-coveted prize: A shield against patient lawsuits. Report

> You can bet the execs at AstraZeneca are biting their nails this week. Next Monday, April 14, marks the end of a 30-month stay on Ranbaxy Laboratories' copycat form of the mega-blockbuster Nexium. Report

> Wonder what it was like to be Fred Hassan (photo) last week, when his top products were getting hammered first at the American College of Cardiology meeting and then in the press? The Star-Ledger has a behind-the-scenes play-by-play of the Schering-Plough CEO's week. Report

And Finally... A (small) dose of anxiety may be good for your health. Release