> Russia's Human Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) is planning on the country's first IPO this year, looking to raise $5.53 million on the country's stock market. Report
> Gen-Probe announced a deal to buy Prodesse, which makes molecular tests for infectious diseases, for $60 million. Milestones in the deal raise the potential take to $85 million. Story
> ARYx Therapeutics says that it will sell $35 million worth of its stock over the next two years. This equity line provides us the continued assurance that ARYx will be able to complete the licensing of our products with the right partners on the most favorable terms," said Dr. Paul Goddard, chairman and CEO. ARYx release
> India's Lupin has sold the U.S. license of its bioadhesive drug delivery technology for use with the rifaximin antibiotic to U.S.-based Salix Pharmaceuticals. Release
> The FDA has rejected Genzyme's application to expand the use of Clolar to acute myeloid leukemia patients over the age of 60. Story
> NeoStem has been awarded $108,746 in stimulus money to investigate the repair of bone defects by human stem cells. Release
Pharma News
> Drugmakers have tossed out their search-engine advertising almost completely, Advertising Age reports, in the wake of an FDA smackdown in late March. Report
> If you'd been a fly on the wall at Roche and Genentech early this year, what would you have seen? Shock, anxiety and lots of quick decision-making, according to a behind-the-scenes story in the Financial Times. Report
> The financial industry may not be clawing back salary and bonuses from the bankers whose wild behavior cost their companies money. But you can't say the same about Big Pharma. Lars Bildman (photo)--former CEO of Astra, now part of AstraZeneca--has to repay nearly $7 million in salary and bonus because of a sexual harassment case that cost the company $10 million. Report
> Patient advocates in Britain are fighting back against overuse of antipsychotic drugs in the elderly, citing new research showing just how widespread that use is. They're calling on the U.K. government to publish its review of antipsychotic use, which has been overdue since May. Article
> There's more news about which drugmakers got surprise visits from European Commission antitrust watchdogs yesterday. According to press reports and company statements, regulators visited Sanofi-Aventis, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, the Novartis generics unit Sandoz, and Ranbaxy Laboratories. Report
Manufacturing News
> Presto! Tamiflu multiplies in supply chain magic. Report
> Oracle and New Momentum are collaborating to help drug makers combat counterfeits. The effort is expected to offer pharmaceutical companies the ability to track units through the supply chain as well as quickly find the fakes. Report
> The combination of disposable technology, contract manufacturing capabilities, and a development partner has led specialty biopharma Itero, in San Mateo, CA, to join forces with opposite-coast biomolecule developer, manufacturer and equipment maker Xcellerex. Itero's focus is clinically and commercially differentiated protein molecules that serve niche markets. Article
> UPS has inaugurated a facility for healthcare logistics in Europe. The facility caters to the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries. Item
> The FDA last week issued its first guidance for industry on Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS), which the regulator can require in cases where it wants to make sure that a drug's benefits outweigh its risks. The guide represents a blueprint for how drugmakers should develop safety strategies. Article
> Beginning this week, a manufacturing change to the anti-clotting drug heparin will likely decrease its potency, according to an FDA alert. Report
And Finally... The Nobel Prize for chemistry this year went to several prominent scientists engaged in "for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome." Release