> Several studies published this week suggest that new ways of approaching the treatment of cancer is on the horizon. Scientists are attempting to use gene sequencing machines to identify the mutations that cause cancer, which they hope will allow for differentiated treatment to patients based on the genetic profile of their tumor. Report
> Times are tough all over. That's no news in the drug biz, which has been fighting familiar battles--generic competition, pricing pressure, et al--for a couple of years now. But they may be about to get tougher, thanks to the troubled economy. Report
> The FDA has given orphan drug designation to CPX-351, Celator Pharmaceuticals' Acute Myeloid Leukemia injection. Celator release
> BioSpecifics Technologies has signed an agreement to improve the deal terms related to its future royalty obligations for Peyronie's disease by buying down its future royalty obligations with a one-time cash payment. BioSpecifics release
> Endo Pharmaceuticals said its executive vice president and CFO Charles Rowland Jr. has resigned. Report
> A new study from Johns Hopkins Children's Center says that with close monitoring and some standard precautions even children with known vaccine allergies can be vaccinated safely. Report
> Shares of Cell Genesys got hit hard last week after the company announced that it was being forced to halt a late-stage trial of its cancer vaccine due. But not all the analysts were ready to write off the company's prospects. Cell Genesys report
> Could Tysabri fight cancer as well as it battles multiple sclerosis? Biogen Idec and Elan aim to find out. Tysabri report
> Amid all the controversy over Vytorin this week, Congress's self-appointed Merck/Schering-Plough investigators upped the ante in their probe of the cholesterol drug. Report
> Times are tough are being felt all over and things may get worse before they get better. Walgreen CEO Jeffrey Rein says this is the tightest market for prescription drugs in his 27-year career. Report
> The controversial HPV vaccine has been making only slow progress in the U.S. Why aren't more girls getting the vaccine? Report
> A new study from Johns Hopkins Children's Center says that with close monitoring and some standard precautions even children with known vaccine allergies can be vaccinated safely. Report
> Shares of Cell Genesys got hit hard last week after the company announced that it was being forced to halt a late-stage trial of its cancer vaccine due to a higher death rate among patients taking a combination of GVAX and Taxotere. Report
And Finally... Like some drugs, the Beijing Olympics has had adverse side effects. China shut down an entire swath of industry to clear the air over Beijing for the games. Among the shutdowns were plants that churn out raw materials for drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Report