> The FDA has placed a partial clinical hold on Phase II studies of Genmab's zalutumumab, as well as requests for new studies. The agency has requested an updated analysis of safety data. Genmab says it's working to respond to the request and expects to make the required submission shortly. Release
> Kemin Industries today announced the acquisition of Amalyte Pharmaceuticals, which will operate as a separate, wholly-owned subsidiary of Kemin. The company says this will provide a path for further clinical development of Amalyte's product pipeline and will allow Kemin to expand its development portfolio and pharmaceutical business, leveraging its clinical and preclinical capabilities in Europe and Asia. Release
> Indian regulators have given Wyeth the go-ahead to resume its Prevnar 13 vaccine study seven months after it was suspended following the death of a child involved in the trial who had been suffering from a pre-existing cardiac. Report
> Galapagos has elected Dr. Werner Cautreels' the its board of directors and appointed Guillaume Jetten as Chief Financial Officer, effective 1 July 2009. Release
> Johnson & Johnson's experimental drug designed to starve the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis is five times more effective than older drugs at treating people with drug-resistant TB. Report
> Shares of Advaxis plunged 36.6 percent Wednesday after the North Brunswick, NJ-based company revealed that the FDA had denied its orphan drug designation application for ADXS11-01 (formerly Lovaxin-C) as an immunotherapy for invasive cervical cancer. Report
Pharma News
> Carl Icahn officially nabbed at least one seat on Biogen Idec's board, and another of his nominees is still in the running in a race that's "too close to call," the company says. But what does the vote mean? Report
> According to Belgian newspaper De Tijd, AstraZeneca was the sole bidder for Solvay's pharma unit, and was only interested in part of the business. Novartis, Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline sniffed around the deal but pulled out. So did Sanofi-Aventis, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and Abbott Laboratories, the newspaper reports. Solvay piece
> FDA aired its quarterly laundry list of drug-safety probes yesterday, reminding us--and everyone else--of its ongoing investigations. Nineteen drugs made the list, several with multiple brand names. Report
> Johnson & Johnson may join the Big Pharma assault on generics markets abroad. In a discussion with analysts, the company's pharma chief Sheri McCoy (photo) talked up the ways J&J drugs can shore up earnings growth. Much of the chat centered on products set to flow from the company pipeline, but McCoy also highlighted some newly approved products--and the possibility of selling branded generics in other parts of the world. J&J report
And Finally... University of New South Walesl researchers have used stem cells cultured on a contact lens to restore sight to sufferers of blinding corneal disease. Report