> The University of Leuven has spun off Formac Pharmaceuticals, banking on new drug delivery technology to tackle poorly soluble molecules. Release | Report
> A Phase II trial of Millennium Pharmaceuticals' MLN1202 met its primary endpoint of reducing C-reactive protein levels in patients at high-risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. MLN1202 is a novel, humanized monoclonal antibody. Release
> Sure enough, President Bush announced yesterday that he'd like to pump up the power at the FDA, but said not a word on increased funding for the effort. Report
> Norway's SantoSolve raised $7 million in a new venture round, enough money to push its lead pain therapy, 2PX, into a late stage study. Release
> Biovail has acquired marketing rights to two early stage therapies from Pharma Pass II. Report
> Kiadis Pharma's lead product, ATIR, has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA as a therapy for immune reconstitution and prevention of Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. ATIR is currently in phase I/II clinical studies and anticipated to enter clinical phase III studies in 2008. Release
> Apitope Technology has completed dosing six multiple sclerosis patients in a Phase I/IIa trial of ATX-MS-1467. The therapeutic vaccine was found to be safe and well tolerated. Release
> A federal judge dealt a blow to Johnson & Johnson's trademark-infringement suit against the American Red Cross. Report
> Neural stem cells were used to stimulate the learning and memory abilities of mice engineered to mimic the severe disabilities produced by Alzheimer's and stroke. Report
> A chemistry professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne says that an iron-based catalyst she developed with a colleague could speed the drug delivery and manufacturing process. Report
And Finally... Here's a little secret about Eli Lilly's U.S. president Deidre Connelly (photo): She likes to go undercover. Report