@FierceBiotech: Pharma CEOs talk tough about unproductive R&D spending. Item | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Here's an interesting idea: Take GSK, AZ and the University of Manchester, get each to invest £5 million and create an R&D center for inflammatory diseases. Follow @JohnCFierce
> NICE has changed its mind on Merck's rheumatoid arthritis treatment, Simponi, after the company agreed to drop the price of its 100-mg treatment to equal the 50-mg cost. The TNF inhibitor is pricier than its counterparts, including Pfizer's Enbrel, Abbott's Humira and Janssen's Remicade. News
> Atlanta-based Alimera Sciences has resubmitted its NDA for Iluvien, a diabetic macular edema drug. The application addresses the FDA's safety concerns from a complete response letter received in December 2010. The company expects the FDA will review the Class 2 resubmission within the next six months. Alimera release
> Biodel hopes to raise $30 million through stock offerings. The antidiabetic company will sell 12.2 million shares of common stock, 1.7 million shares of Series A convertible preferred stock and warrants to purchase another 9 million common stock shares. Article
> Ziopharm has submitted an IND application with the FDA for Ad-RTS-IL-12, a DNA-based melanoma therapy. The company has already completed preclinical trials and a Phase Ib trial on the drug. Ziopharm release
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: Ranbaxy scrambles to deliver on Nexium supply deal. News | Follow @FiercePharma
> Pfizer sets aside $772M for settling Prempro case. Article
> WSJ: Feds want $1B settlement in J&J Risperdal probe. Report
> Google near $500M settlement in pharmacy probe. Story
> Takeda says no deal for Nycomed. Sources say, 'not yet.' Item
And Finally... A McGill University survey found that one in five physicians and psychiatrists have prescribed a placebo to patients, and 35 percent of psychiatrists admitted to prescribing subtherapeutic doses of medication. Report