Map Pharma gains $20M milestone on NDA acceptance; Aspinall to run Ventana Medical Systems;

@FierceBiotech: Teva's oral MS drug trips (again) in blockbuster Ph3 development race. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Insmed down 30% on the clinical hold. Just illustrates how dicey it is in drug development. | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: Sequencing giant BGI shoots for the cloud, look out Complete Genomics? Item | Follow @RyanMFierce

@MaureenFierce: Celgene, Alcon, P&G, CSL rank in Forbes' Top 100 Innovative Companies list. Not many life science companies on there. Article | Follow @MaureenFierce

> The FDA has accepted Map Pharmaceuticals' NDA for Levadex, a migraine drug, triggering a $20 million milestone from Allergan. Release

> Mara Aspinall has been named president of Ventana Medical Systems. Aspinall was most recently president, and CEO of On-Q-ity, a start-up diagnostics company focused on circulating tumor cell technology. Release

> Actelion says its MS drug ponesimod looked promising in a Phase IIb dose-finding study, demonstrating a reduction in the number of new active inflammatory lesions in the brain. Release 

> Protalix has formally reapplied for FDA approval of its Gaucher's drug. Story

> The EU has approved AstraZeneca's Axanum, a combination of aspirin and the active ingredient for Nexium. News

> SeraCare Life Sciences has put itself up for sale. Item

> Joe Herring, the CEO of Covance, says that any rival CRO expanding through mergers is likely to face some big integration challenges. Report

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Add another state AG to the list of Risperdal plaintiffs. Now it's Mass. claiming J&J's marketing crossed the line. News | Follow @FiercePharma

> Another AG sues J&J over Risperdal marketing. Story

Biotech Research News

> US gives out $5M for antiradiation drugs in case of attack. Item

> Leukemia drug helps reverse tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer. News

> A transcriptional time machine may turn back the clock on leukemia. Article

> Genes help personalized stomach cancer treatments. Report

> Of mice, men, sex, and violence. Story

> Nicotine eyed as Parkinson's treatment. More

Manufacturing News

> How an ops driving lesson may have saved former Pfizer CEO Kindler. More

> Genzyme supplies rise, but Fabrazyme lags. News

> Shippers organize air cargo to win over pharma. Story

> UN: Pharma CMOs fare well in investment by developing countries. Article

> Compounding pharmacies shine during drug shortages. Report

And Finally... New research has demonstrated that nicotine can guard the brain against Parkinson's disease. "This study raises the hope for a possible neuroprotective treatment of patients at an early step of the disease or even before at a stage where the disease has not been diagnosed according to motor criteria," said Patrick P. Michel, co-author of the study from the Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, in Paris, France. Release