Valeant emerges as white knight for Afexa; Gedeon Richter, STADA ink biosim collaboration; AEterna reports successful Ph3;

 

 @FierceBiotech: Actelion drug macitentan flunks PhII but safety data bolsters confidence in blockbuster PhIII. News | Follow@FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: The Guardian runs down a litany of biotech failures, challenges and ends on a quick 'up' note regarding collaborations.Piece | Follow @JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: New facebook app "PiggyDemic," from scientists at Tel Aviv University, aims to simulate how viruses spread and mutate.Item | Follow @RyanMFierce

 @MaureenFierce: Adimab adds Novo, Biogen Idec to roster of antibody partners. Story | Follow @MaureenFierce

 

> Valeant Pharmaceuticals has emerged as a white knight for Afexa, bidding $76 million for the company, which is fending off a hostile takeover attempt by Paladin. Story

> Gedeon Richter and STADA Arzneimittel AG have agreed to collaborate on developing a pair of biosimilars for rituximab and trastuzumab. Report

> AEterna Zentaris says that a late-stage study provided promising results for its oral diagnostic test for adult growth hormone deficiency. Story

> Contract Pharmaceuticals in Buffalo is letting go 128 workers. Story

 

Pharma News

 @FiercePharma: Top drugmakers report payments of $150M to 165K docs so far this year, FT finds. Last full year: $437M. Report | Follow@FiercePharma

 

> FT: Pharma payments to U.S. docs hit $150M. Report

> Public Citizen: FDA should change generics labeling rules. Article

> ESC backs AZ drug over Plavix on mortality benefit. News

> Docs blame reimbursement, complexity, cost-benefit for Provenge uptake. Story

Biotech Research News

> JHU researchers have a full platelet of blood-clotting research. More

> Researchers find new clues into spread of influenza B. News

> A possible solution found for TTR-related amyloid diseases. Report

> So, a needle-pulling-thread is outdated, doc goes sutureless. Article

> Patient in stem-cell treatment for MS reports improvement. Details

> Researchers dream up a new cause for narcolepsy. Story

Manufacturing News

> Sabotage suspected in U.K. painkiller case. News

> Distributor plans to excise supply chain links. Story

> WHO committee report keeps pharma current. Brief

> Abbott taps manufacturing smarts in Haiti rebuild. Details

> Venus warning letter belies poor 483 response. Article

> Time to put the innovation into manufacturing. More

> U.S. tax reform or not, offshore beckons. Report

 

And Finally... A U.N. group is warning of a possible resurgence of bird flu after a mutant strain was spotted in Asia. Currently used vaccines evidently can't protect people from this new version of avian flu. Story