Czech group J&T to sell Zentiva stake to SanofiReutersPR) to Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA), helping boost a majority stake the French firm has secured in a bid for the Czech peer. A unit of privately-owned Czech firm J&T Fervent Holding said it would accept Sanofi's offer of 1150 crowns per Zentiva share, …(Adds Sanofi-Aventis) guardian.co.ukFrance's Sanofi-Aventis set [...]

Genocea Biosciences secures m from GlaxoSmithKline’s venture …AltAssetsSR One, the venture capital arm of healthcare giant GlaxoSmithKline, has led a m Series A financing round in Genocea Biosciences, a developer of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. New investors Auriga Partners, Cycad Group, and Alexandria Real …Glaxo Leads Million Round for Genocea New York Times BlogsCambridge [...]

CaymanMama.com (press release)

Cherry-flavored malaria drug launched for kidsThe Associated PressDAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis is launching a new cherry-flavored malaria drug that it says children will be less likely to spit out. The child-friendly version of its Coartem malaria pill dissolves in water, …Child-Friendly Anti-Malarial Drug Introduced Across Africa Voice of AmericaNovartis [...]

Wall Street Journal Blogs

Pfizer lowers amount of executive severance payoutThe Associated PressTRENTON, NJ (AP) — Pfizer Inc., the world's biggest drugmaker, is significantly reducing the value of the severance packages for top managers in a nod to public pressure to reduce sky-high executive pay. The new executive severance plan took effect …Pfizer Lowers Executive [...]

People's Pharmacy: Some drug companies are facing heatHouston Chronicle, United StatesOther pharmaceutical firms that have had to pay huge fines for misconduct include Schering-Plough, Bayer, Merck, Abbott and AstraZeneca. In an industry that is supposed to be putting patients first, it seems that executives are sometimes willing to …

CTV.ca

Boy, 11, accused of killing father's pregnant girlfriendCNN(CNN) — An 11-year-old boy is facing adult charges in the shooting death of his father's pregnant girlfriend, authorities said Saturday.Boy charged with killing dad's pregnant girlfriend The Associated PressBoy, 11, charged with killing father's fiancee, who was 8 months … New York Daily NewsMSNBC - WYTV - Beaver County [...]

ND Medicaid shares in drug settlementMinot Daily News, NDBy JILL SCHRAMM, Staff Writer, jschramm@minotdailynews.com BISMARCK North Dakota's Medicaid program will share in a .4 billion lawsuit settled with drug manufacturer Eli Lilly & Co., according to the state Department of Human Services. …ND gets part of Lilly settlement Dickinson PressNORTH DAKOTA ROUNDUP: Crash kills Minot man [...]

Options Update: Bristol-Myers Squibb Calls Spike on Abbott Labs …Schaeffers Research, OHby Joseph Hargett (jhargett@sir-inc.com) 2/20/2009 1:30 PM Earlier today, pharmaceutical concern Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY: sentiment, chart, options) settled a dispute with Abbott Laboratories (ABT: sentiment, chart, options) related to an alleged …

Pfizer lowers amount of executive severance payoutThe Associated Press"This is something we would have done regardless" of the current deal to acquire rival drugmaker Wyeth, Pfizer spokeswoman Joan Campion said. The new plan keeps Pfizer competitive, she said, "but is more aligned with shareholder interests. …

Abbott Raises Dividend 11%, 37th Consecutive Annual IncreaseCNNMoney.comAbbott Laboratories (ABT) announced an 11% increase to its quarterly dividend, the 37th consecutive annual boost for the maker of drugs and medical devices. Abbott's dividend increase to 40 cents follows its strong fourth-quarter results released last …Abbott raises dividend 11% Chicago TribuneAbbott Announces 11 Percent Increase [...]