> A new assessment of New Jersey's biotech industry has found a strong pulse for growth. BioNJ and Ernst & Young counted 238 biotech companies in the state, up from 226 in 2006. The industry employed 6,115 people last year. And each biotech is expected to add another 20 workers on average over the next year. Story
> An Indian tax tribunal said that overseas firms with no permanent establishment in the country providing research facilities for clinical to Indian companies are not liable to pay taxes. Report
> Perrigo is buying JB Laboratories for about $44 million in cash. Release
> The FDA has provided priority review status for Novartis' malaria drug Coartem, a combo therapy. Story
> The FDA to Cephalon: Get a better risk-communication program. That's what lies between the drugmaker and new indications for its painkiller Fentora. Report
> By injecting stem cells extracted from bone marrow, scientists were able to coordinate the genetic response of animals, dramatically reducing the amount of brain damage triggered by a sudden interruption in the blood supply. Report
> Late last week GlaxoSmithKline announced a newly re-engineered program for cancer R&D, a move that has caused considerable head-scratching in the discovery world. Report
> Pfizer has unveiled a new drug safety section on its website, and so far, critics are giving it a thumbs up. Report
And Finally... The National Science Foundation has once again completed its annual list of the top 20 academic institutions engaged in research work. And once again Johns Hopkins has come in at the top, with $1.55 billion in research spending in fiscal 2007. Johns Hopkins has claimed the money prize twenty-nine years in a row. The money was devoted to science, medicine and engineering. Report