> CeNeRx BioPharma has raised $9 million--$4 million in venture capital and $5 million in a new credit line. And the Cary, NC-based developer says it also licensed the rights to develop and market CXB909 from Krenitsky Pharmaceuticals. No financial details on the deal were announced. CeNeRx release
> Belgium's Galapagos has started clinical trials on a second drug program, and the news helped boost its share price today. The bone metastasis drug GLPG0187 could be available by 2016 if all goes according to plan. Release
> Insmed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Allan has resigned, citing health concerns. Director Melvin Sharoky, the former CEO of Somerset Pharmaceuticals, was named chairman. Release
> Antigenics named former Sanofi-Aventis CEO Timothy Rothwell to its board of directors. Antigenics release
> Wound Care Innovations has reached an agreement in principle to acquire BioPharma Management Technologies, a privately held biotechnology company with a platform of proprietary and patented technologies for topical pain management and resorbable orthoses. Release
Pharma News
> Drugmakers are tiptoeing cautiously into social media years after many other industries, at least in part because the FDA has yet to define the wherefores of drug marketing in this often-freewheeling arena. Social media report
> MedPAC: Are new drugs worth higher prices? Report
> Patent lawsuits are all in a day's work for Big Pharma, yes? Hardly a day goes by that some drugmaker doesn't sue a generics firm in an attempt to keep copycat meds off the market. Especially now, when the much-feared patent cliff of 2011 rapidly approaches. Report
> Research shows that kids using ADHD meds are several times more likely to die suddenly as children who aren't taking the drugs. But the FDA says parents shouldn't pull their children off the meds posthaste. ADHD report
> German regulators aren't too happy with Pfizer. The country's Institute for Quality and Efficacy in Health Care (IQWiG) is accusing the drugmaker of deliberately withholding data on its antidepressant reboxetine (Edronax). Pfizer report
Research News
> Eli Lilly is opening up a web portal that might just open up new collaborative initiatives with lab researchers around the world. Report
> Faced with the threat of attacks from animal rights activists, the University of Iowa is taking its animal research lab underground. Report
Biotech IT News
> IT service provider TechTeam Global has formed a life sciences business unit, building on the pharmaceutical center of excellence it established a year ago. The unit will provide e-clinical support services, as well as service desk and infrastructure management. Report
> Add IT service provider Connectria to the growing list of cloud computing service providers. The company's launch last week of its Private Cloud Computing offering follows a 2008 launch by its REDPLAID division. Report
> The Philippines, Thailand and China all reported new cases of swine flu as the virus continues its march through Asia. "You can't stop the spread of this virus anymore," Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said. "The mitigation efforts are aimed at slowing it down, then working to help villagers address the infections." Report
And Finally... "Bad news, [medical innovation] takes money," said Dick Gephardt, delivering the opening remarks at Friday's Best and Brightest Forum on Medical Innovation. But when it comes to investing in technology advances and research, says Gephardt, there is nothing that we can do with our money that will create a greater return. And that was the theme throughout the event held at the Newseum Knight Conference Center, which included a keynote by the newest Dem. on the Hill, Sen. Arlen Specter. Article