FDA greenlights Synta's elesclomol trial; AZN to axe 1,200;

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> Synta Pharmaceuticals says that the FDA has given it a green light to resume studies of the skin cancer drug elesclomol, which were halted last year due to safety concerns. Synta release

> Compugen has named Anat Cohen-Dayag, Ph.D. as president and CEO, and Martin Gerstel as chairman. Previously, Dr. Cohen-Dayag and Gerstel served as co-CEOs of the company. Compugen release

> Valeant Pharmaceuticals is paying Spear Pharmaceuticals $12 million upfront for the rights to commercialize Refissa, a prescription-based wrinkle cream. Story

> Ariad won the orphan drug designation for its leukemia therapy AP24534. Report 

> AstraZeneca will axe about 1,200 jobs when it closes its Loughborough plant in the UK. Article

> The FDA tells Biodel that it will review its new diabetes therapy VIAject. Report

And Finally...It turns out that as far as animals are concerned, the higher your abode, the longer you live. News