> Dancing in the streets yet? If you're not, then you haven't heard that Sen. Charles Grassley, the perpetual thorn in pharma's side, looks to be stepping down from his post as chief of the Senate Finance Committee. Report
> Leinco Technologies, which develops and manufacturers life science products for pharma and research entities, is relocating from St. Louis, MO to be closer to Scripps Research Institute and the Max Planck Institute. Report
> Europe outpacing the U.S. on cheaper biotech drugs. Report
> British biotech Biocontrol, which is developing a product to kill high-powered bacteria, has opened its office in the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park in downtown Richmond. The satellite office will operate as a U.S. based affiliate under the name Biocontrol International. Report
> Researchers in Texas have signed on to work on a new chlamydia vaccine for Merck. Report
> Armed with large federal subsidies and a strong desire to exchange the old, egg-based vaccine production method with something far more efficient, vaccine makers have been moving closer to a new cell-based system. Report
> Axentis Pharma of Zurich, Switzerland announced today treatment for infections of the respiratory tract in cystic fibrosis patients has received orphan drug designation in the U.S. The drug candidate, Fluidosomes-tobramycin, has already received orphan drug status in Europe. Release
> Terry McGuire, co-founder and managing partner of Polaris Venture Partners in Waltham,MA was elected chairman of the board of the National Venture Capital Association at the 2009 NVCA Annual Meeting. Report
> The SEC is probing the spike in trading of Schering-Plough stock that took place days before the announcement of the megamerger. Report
> Slowly but surely, Solvay is moving toward a sale of its pharmaceuticals unit. Report
And Finally... Using a steroid drug for multiple sclerosis in addition to an MS drug may reduce the amount of disease activity more than using the MS drug alone, according to a study presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle. Release