> Does the U.S. biotech industry deserve a bailout? Poll
> Amgen and Takeda say that they will resume a late-stage lung cancer trial for motesanib, but restrict it to patients with non-squamous cell type cancer. The trial was suspended back in November after a safety review revealed more deaths in the drug arm. Release
> Mundipharma International has inked an $85 million deal to sell Novelos' NOV-002, now in a late-stage trial for non-small cell lung cancer--in Europe and Asia. Report
> DOR BioPharma has signed a potential $30 million partnering agreement with Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals for the development and commercialization in North America of orBec. Sigma-Tau will make a $6 million upfront investment in DOR. DOR release
> A special court at the Justice Department has ruled that parents who claim their children became autistic after receiving an MMR vaccine are not entitled to compensation. Report
> Palatin Technologies has pocketed $4.1 million from AstraZeneca relating to an extension of its research and license deal to discover, develop and commercialize compounds that target melanocortin receptors and a clinical trial sponsored research agreement. Palatin release
> Genzyme says it expects an FDA approval for a new manufacturing facility to produce its biologic for a rare enzyme disease. The therapy has been called Myozyme but is being renamed Lumizyme as the agency does not consider the product being made at the new facility as the biologic equivalent of Myozyme. Report
> It's one of the strangest drug ads you'll probably ever see: An attractive young woman explaining why Bayer's birth control pill Yaz isn't all it's cracked up to be. Don't take Yaz thinking you'll get clearer skin or find yourself in a better mood come PMS time, the ads note. Never mind what our ads might have said before. Report
> Today, the New England Journal of Medicine publishes a large study showing that commonly used bone-loss meds may cut breast cancer spread or recurrence by as much as one-third. Report
> Investors cheered Sanofi-Aventis CEO Chris Viehbacher's new strategic plans yesterday, giving the languishing stock an 8 percent boost to $30.56. Today, however, it's back down below $30 so far. And at least one analyst says he sees no reason to change his rating on the stock--now at "Hold"--because Viehbacher's plan was light on the details, the Associated Press reports. Report
> Johnson & Johnson announced Tuesday evening that the FDA has asked for additional information before granting a new indication for Risperdal Consta. Report
And Finally... Novartis Vaccines is reporting progress with a new meningitis B vaccine that could be on the market in two years. The company says the vaccine should be up for a license in Europe next year. Report