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Blood pressure drugs slow eye problems in diabetes 5:37 AM 7/2/2009
Reuters - USA
Merck's blood pressure drugs Vasotec (enalapril) and Cozaar (losartan) slowed progression of diabetic eye damage in more than 65 percent of patients. ...

Sanofi wins FDA approval for Multaq heart drug 3:32 AM 7/2/2009
Forbes - NY,USA
Sanofi-Aventis won approval to sell heart drug Multaq in the US which could be the blockbuster that helps the company as patents expire on drugs like cancer treatment Taxotere and blood thinner Plavix. ...

Discovery Labs says lung drug unlikely to get FDA nod 10:01 PM 7/1/2009
Reuters - USA
Discovery Laboratories Inc said its lung drug surfaxin was not likely to get US FDA approval in the near term. Discovery will focus on other development programs. ...

Two Sepracor drugs suffer setback, shares tumble 4:51 PM 7/1/2009
Reuters - USA
Sepracor Inc suffered a double setback as its experimental depression drug SEP-225289 failed a Phase II study and the US FDA halted two pediatric studies of its blockbuster Lunesta insomnia drug. ...

Pfizer, Glaxo anti-smoking drugs need warning -FDA 3:06 PM 7/1/2009
Reuters - USA
The US FDA ordered Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline to add strong "black box" warnings on their anti-smoking drugs Chantix and Zyban to highlight the risk of serious mental health problems including thoughts of suicide. ...

Pfizer's Sutent fails in colon cancer, trial halted 5:34 AM 7/1/2009
Reuters - USA
Pfizer Inc said a late stage trial of its cancer drug Sutent in advanced colon cancer was discontinued. Sutent was no better than standard chemotherapy. ...

Astra, Pozen seek US approval for new pain drug 2:34 AM 7/1/2009
Forbes - NY,USA
AstraZeneca and drug development partner Pozen submitted their experimental two-in-one pain drug PN400 for regulatory approval in the US. Vimovo is a combination of AstraZeneca's ulcer drug Nexium and anti-inflammatory naproxen. ...

FDA panel: Lower maximum daily dose of Tylenol 5:34 PM 6/30/2009
The Associated Press
Government experts want to see a reduction in the maximum dose of Tylenol and elimination of Vicodin and Percocet. Acetaminophen overdose is the leading cause of liver failure in the US. ...

Geron inks stem-cell deal with GE Healthcare 2:04 PM 6/30/2009
Bizjournals.com - Charlotte,NC,USA
GE Healthcare and biotechnology firm Geron Corp will work to develop tests based on human embryonic stem cell lines. Geron licenses the lines from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. ...

AMAG anemia drug wins US approval, shares jump 12:34 PM 6/30/2009
Forbes - NY,USA
AMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc said the US FDA approved its injectable anemia drug Feraheme. ...

Abbott Told To Pay J&J $1.67 Billion Over Patent 5:00 AM 6/30/2009
Wall Street Journal - USA
A federal jury upheld the patent on Johnson & Johnson's arthritis treatment Remicade ordering Abbott Laboratories to pay $1.7 billion for infringing the Centocor Ortho Biotech patent. ...

Cost-Effectiveness of Cancer Drugs Is Questioned 3:54 AM 6/30/2009
Wall Street Journal - USA
Treating a lung-cancer patient with Erbitux at $80,000 per 18-week regimen prolongs survival by only 35 days. Extending life one year would cost $440 billion if that math were applied to the 550,000 Americans who die of cancer annually. ...

FDA orders more trials on PPD diabetes drug 3:44 PM 6/29/2009
Bizjournals.com - Charlotte,NC,USA
The US FDA requests that PPD Inc conduct additional tests on diabetes drug alogliptin being developed with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. ...

Roche recasts itself as a Big Biotech 12:31 PM 6/29/2009
FierceBiotech - Washington,DC,USA
Roche is dropping out of PhRMA and takes Genentech's top position in BIO. Genentech and Roche say BIO's purpose is closely aligned with the direction of the new company and interests in Washington. ...

Needle-free injections OK'd for Teva growth hormone 9:34 AM 6/29/2009
Bizjournals.com - Charlotte,NC,USA
Antares said needle-free injectors for human growth hormone protein is the first approval in the Teva-Antares collaboration. ...

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