> It's official: Teva and Barr are getting hitched. It's a $7.46 billion cash-and-stock deal that will combine the world's largest and fourth-largest generics makers into one big copycat drug powerhouse. Report
> The Durham, NC-based start-up Slate Pharmaceuticals has raised $5 million from 34 investors. Story
> Sunstone (Tangshan) Pharmaceutical has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire 75 percent of Zhangjiakou Shengda Pharmaceutical, a maker of pediatric pharmaceuticals. Release
> Biocon and Abraxis have launched the breast cancer drug Abraxane in India. Report
> Once again, prescriptions for the embattled Merck/Schering-Plough med Vytorin have dropped, this time by 5 percent during the month of June. Vytorin report
> Pharma industry lawyers descended on the U.S. capital this week to meet with House Energy and Commerce Committee staffers, hoping to forestall legislation that could limit drugmakers' ability to advertise their products. DTC report
> GlaxoSmithKline is paring away at its Consumer Healthcare unit, with a series of layoffs and cost-cutting consolidations. GSK report
> Sanofi-Aventis hasn't been so lucky in its bid to buy the Czech generics maker Zentiva. The object of Sanofi's desire rebuffed the $2 billion takeover offer. Report
> Scientific American is reporting on the successful advance of a preclinical Alzheimer's vaccine that combines small amounts of amyloid beta and interleukin-4, which is delivered in an inactivated herpes virus. Report
> > The UK's chief medical officer is predicting that new vaccines will be available within five to 10 years that can protect hospital patients against deadly superbugs. Report
And Finally... Cognitive behaviour therapy is effective in treating the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, according to a recent systematic review carried out by Cochrane Researchers. Release