FDA marks deadline for blockbuster Bydureon decision; Ironwood expenses grow in Q2

@FierceBiotech: Detector lets researchers see biomarkers with their naked eyes. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Highlights of the PwC VC report: Biotech deals and dollars are down year over year. Funding on early rounds grow. Report | Follow @JohnCFierce

@MaureenFierce: Paladin makes hostile bid for Afexa. Story | Follow @MaureenFierce

> The FDA has marked January 28, 2012 as its deadline for deciding--once again--whether or not Bydureon should be approved to treat diabetes. Amylin, Eli Lilly and Alkermes have been jockeying for an approval of the new treatment--a once-weekly successor to the blockbuster Byetta--for some time. Most recently the FDA demanded more safety data related to the drug's impact on the heart and in July the developers delivered a fresh set of data finding no link between the drug and potentially harmful changes in heart rhythm. Story

> Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, which recently filed linaclotide for approval, reported that its expenses grew in the second quarter. Ironwood last $18.8 million in Q2. Story

> San Francisco-based CytomX Therapeutics has named Sean McCarthy as its new CEO. Release

> Bohai Pharmaceuticals Group has acquired China's Yantai Tianzheng Pharmaceutical, which makes traditional Chinese remedies. Release

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Vioxx lawyers are still playing tug-of-war on legal fees. Why? Because it works. Item | Follow @FiercePharma

> Breakthrough meds deliver the goods for BMS, Vertex. More

> New HIV med stands to boost J&J, Gilead by $500M. Story

> Vioxx securities-fraud case moves ahead. News

> Analysts love Teva, up or down. Details

> NEJM: Xarelto at least equal to warfarin. Report

Manufacturing News

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> Greeley at CIS: alignments that speed time into market, aid compliance. News

> GSK leads pharma charge to middle east. Story

> Pfizer piggybacks PAT to real-time release. Article

Vaccine News

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> Aeras kicks off TB trial in HIV patients. Report

> FBI raids San Diego's NexBio. Details

> University gets $4.8M grant for new rabies treatment. Story

And Finally... A team of scientists in the UK have identified 30 new genetic risk factors for multiple sclerosis, more than doubling the number of known genetic clues to the disease. Story