> Millipore Corporation has entered into a worldwide, non-exclusive license agreement with Astellas Pharma to use Millipore's UCOETM (Ubiquitous Chromatin Opening Element) technology in its research programs. Release
> PDL BioPharma announced today that it has reset the record date for the spin-off of PDL's biotechnology operations--Facet Biotech--to December 5. Release
> Canadian contract manufacturer PharmEng International has managed to trim down its costs once again, but is still feeling the pain associated with the opening of its new facility in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and posted a loss of over C$8m (€5m). Report
> Vical received a $1 million milestone payment from Merck based on the pharma giant's planned initiation of a Phase I clinical trial of an investigational plasmid DNA cancer vaccine. Report
> Hawaii Biotech says it is wrapping up its first human trial of a new West Nile vaccine. Phase II is expected to get started in 2009. Report
> Deaths related to two overseas vaccine trials have spurred regulators to take a tougher stance on drug research. Report
> It's a double whammy for AstraZeneca in the news today. First, the FDA cited AZ for promoting its antipsychotic drug Seroquel as a remedy for depression--an unapproved use. Next comes the revelation that AstraZeneca knew that Seroquel could cause diabetes as far back as 2000, long before the company warned doctors about that risk. Report
> Rep. Bart Stupak is lobbying President-elect Obama for a change in FDA leadership. In a letter to Obama, Stupak maintains that the FDA's top officials are "too close with the industries they regulate." Report
> GlaxoSmithKline is playing point against some procedural changes the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office proposed last year; GSK already got a district judge to throw out the rules, but now the issue is up for appeal. Report
> Should the FDA restrict or even withdraw some long-acting asthma meds? The agency has sifted the data on a handful of asthma meds and found a link between the drugs and a higher risk of asthma-related side effects. Report
> More pharma leaders are in the news today discussing worries that the industry wont get through this recession as successfully as they have through other economic downturns in the past. Report
> City officials want Cambridge to remain the biotech capital of the world, but residents are wondering if the risk is worth it. Residents have expressed concerns for labs known for performing work with infectious agents--anthrax and other airborne pathogens--that may cause potentially lethal diseases as a result of exposure. Report
And Finally... Dr. Kris at SeekingAlpha crunches the numbers on the top biotechs and finds that Biogen Idec, Gilead Sciences and Genzyme are ripe for takeovers. Report