French biotechs hope to thrive in 2011; Cangene gets $61M BARDA commitment;

@FierceBiotech: Ex-CRO workers alleged to have falsified data in Schering study. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: I wrote up Constellation back in 2008 as one of our Fierce 15s. Report | Follow @JohnCFierce  

> Biotechs in France have had a tough go of it over the last few years. After a steep decline in venture funding in 2009 fresh funds started to flow last year. And many industry observers say that continued progress should be made this year as some of the most promising biotechs go public. But with NicOx and Transgene disappointing investors, the venture community is hopeful that at least one developer can excite investors and reenergize the industry. Report

> Cangene Corporation says that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority will exercise options under a botulism antitoxin supply contract which are expected to generate about $61 million in additional revenue over the next three to four years. Release

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Cephalon CEO up for $14M severance in Teva deal. Report | Follow @FiercePharma

> SC judge orders J&J to pay $327M in Risperdal case. Article

> Study: BMS drug works in untreated melanoma patients. News

> Novartis, Roche blockbusters shine at ASCO. Report

Biotech IT News

> DNA computer tackles problems with code of life. Story

> Exclusive CEO Q&A: BioClinica chief Mark Weinstein on firm's eClinical makeover. Interview

> OpenClinica rides open source model to gain paying EDC users. Piece

> Medidata adds Allscripts vet Shapiro to board. Report

> Nations advance systems to flag bad drug reactions. Item

> Aptiv Solutions advances with CRO-software combo. Report

Medical Device News

> Regenesis gets $5.3M in Series C. Report

> FDA urges industry to check Japanese parts for damage. Story

> J&J's Animas unit get CE mark for Animas Vibe. Item

> Straumann, Nobel Biocare drop bids for AstraTech. Report

> Medco, MolecularMD team on CML test. Article

And Finally... Scott Gottlieb, the former deputy administrator at the FDA, argues in the Wall Street Journal that the recent sentencing of Scott Harkonen highlights a dangerous trend: Federal constraint of free speech by private companies as the government uses new comparative effectiveness research to discourage the use of their therapies. Op-Ed