> Rexahn Pharmaceuticals and Teva have closed a licensing and investment deal. Teva will invest $3.5 million in Rexahn in exchange for the licensing rights to anticancer drug compound RX-3117. Rexahn will receive royalties, milestone payments and a cut of the commercial sales.
> Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk opened a new research center for autoimmune diseases in Seattle, WA today. The drugmaker said it chose Seattle for its talent pool. Article
> Sanofi-aventis says the FDA decided against approving its new drug eplivanserin for patients with chronic insomnia. Release
> Maryland's Gazette takes a look at the state's venture capital market and how small biotechs are faring. The state's biotechs have raised millions of dollars in recent weeks, but for some the investment community's response has been lukewarm. Article
Pharma News
> A penchant for helicopters characterizes forensic psychiatrist Neil Kaye, M.D., a prominent player in the recent $2.3 billion Pfizer off-label marketing settlement. Article
> Reuters reports that GlaxoSmithKline is negotiating a 5 percent stake in Indian generics maker Dr Reddy's Labs. Analysts see a match between the move and a stated Glaxo goal to build up its presence in emerging markets. Article
> Barron's scanned the market for the next possible M&A deal. Here are their picks. Report
> Reuters reports that GlaxoSmithKline is negotiating a 5 percent stake in Indian generics maker Dr Reddy's Labs. Story
> Increasing the use of generic drugs in government programs to the levels that exist in nongovernment markets represents "bigger money" than the government would save by hiking the rebates paid by generics makers, says an industry executive. Article
And Finally... J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., founder, president and chairman of the J. Craig Venter Institute, has been named a recipient of this year's National Medal of Science. Dr. Venter will be awarded the Medal from President Obama on October 7 at a White House ceremony. Release