> Just days after pulling its IPO, Anacor Pharmaceuticals announced that it had raised $50 million through a preferred stock financing with participation from GlaxoSmithKline, Schering Corporation and existing investors, including Rho Capital Partners, Venrock Associates, Care Capital and Aberdare Ventures. Release
> Could Daiichi Sankyo be suffering from buyer's remorse? Yesterday, we noted that the Japanese drugmaker was already taking a writedown on its buyout of India's Ranbaxy Laboratories. A $3.8 billion writedown, to be specific. Now, more details are emerging. Report
> Lexington, MA-based Cubist Pharmaceuticals has arranged a $90 million line of credit with the Royal Bank of Canada. Cubist also filed two IND applications. Report
> Government bean counters owe a big thanks to the drug industry. Though healthcare spending in the U.S. did rise again in 2007, the increase fell to its lowest rate in 10 years. And that's at least partly because of less growth in prescription spending. Report
> Advaxis announced that the FDA has lifted its hold on the clinical trial for its lead drug candidate, Lovaxin C, in patients with grade 2/3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Release
> Merck has officially asked the FDA to give Gardasil its blessing for use in males aged 9 to 26 years old, CNBC reports. Report
> Galapagos has garnered €7.6 million from GSK on hitting preclinical milestones for a preclinical osteoarthritis candidate. Story
> FASgen has entered into a research and license agreement with Centocor. Release
> You can't fault the new Congress for lack of zeal. Already, lawmakers are pushing for a big tobacco bill that would charge the FDA with regulating cigarettes. Report
> Halozyme Therapeutics announced receipt of $5.5 million from Baxter Healthcare Corporation representing the final prepaid product-based payment due under the terms of its HYLENEX licensing agreement. Release
> It had to happen. Once Pfizer CEO Jeff Kindler told the Financial Times that he's open to big acquisitions, the backseat matchmaking began. Report
And Finally... Wired has come up with its closely-watched list of top scientific breakthroughs of the past year, and the life sciences figure prominently on the top-10 countdown. Report