> Montreal-based ConjuChem Biotechnologies has set out to study its options, which includes a possible sale of all or a piece of the company. Board chairman Jacques Lapointe will head the special committee examining the company's strategic alternatives. ConjuChem has been developing a diabetes drug and a long-acting insulin. Its stock is trading at 13.5 cents. Report
> Kolltan Pharmaceuticals has closed its Series B with $10 million. The money is earmarked for its work on new cancer therapeutics. Kolltan release
> Halozyme and BioAlta have teamed up to work on new drugs for cancer, inflammatory diseases and dermatology. Release
> Targeted Genetics has received a delisting notice from Nasdaq. The company says it's not appealing. Targeted Genetics release
> Idera Pharmaceuticals has qualified for a $4.3 million milestone under its collaboration deal with Merck KGaA. Idera release
> The Dundalk Institute of Technology has opened a biotech research center which will work on new drug development. Story
> Novartis has won approval in Japan for three new drugs. Report
Pharma News
> Alcon's independent director committee has spoken--and it's not impressed with Novartis' offer. Alcon article
> Now that the Democrats have lost Sen. Ted Kennedy's Senate seat to the Republicans, they must feel as if they squandered those good old days of a 60-40 majority. Now, healthcare reform advocates face several not-so-wonderful options for getting a bill passed. Article
> Yet another drugmaker is plotting a big sales push into China--and plans to staff up with hundreds of new reps to make that push happen. This time it's Pfizer, which wants to get 3,200 company reps in the Chinese market by the end of next year. Pfizer report
> With fewer sales reps on staff, e-marketing almost doubles at Pfizer. Article
Manufacturing News
> Op-Ed: Tylenol has lost its way. Article
> Drug company manufacturing operations are far from lean. In a long-term cross-industry study that uses inventory turns as an indicator, pharmaceutical companies hold the bottom spot. Article
> Six biopharma companies have so far signed with Sharps Compliance Corp. to manage the return of syringes from consumers. Report
> Drug giant GlaxoSmithKline is fighting counterfeiters who have targeted its over-the-counter weight-loss product, Alli. GSK report
> The yeoman wooden pallet, a trustworthy supply-chain agent for some 60 years, is under attack. Much of the public, thanks to most of the media coverage, has placed blame for the 50-million-unit J&J McNeil product recall on contamination caused by a chemical byproduct of a treatment used on pallet wood. Article
And Finally... Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has donated $65 million of his fortune to support a new project to understand the genomics behind cancer, diabetes and kidney disease. Article