The news summaries appearing in BIO SmartBrief are based on original information from news organizations and are produced by SmartBrief, Inc., an independent e-mail newsletter publisher. The information is not compiled or summarized by BIO. Questions and comments should be directed to SmartBrief at bio@smartbrief.com.

Today's Top Story

• Industry conditions likely to worsen, Roche CEO says
  More drugmakers may have to merge or go bankrupt in the coming years as conditions in the global pharmaceutical industry continue to decline, Roche Holding CEO Severin Schwan said. "Those who fail to bring sufficient innovation will be squeezed out of this market," Schwan said. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (12/8)

• Roche to stick with $43.7 billion bid for Genentech: Roche Holding is determined to pursue its $43.7 billion offer to buy out Genentech despite the biotech firm's rejection of the bid, CEO Severin Schwan said, according to this report citing The Wall Street Journal. The company is committed to "make this transaction happen," Schwan said. Reuters (12/8)

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Health Care & Policy

• Government agency chooses Kansas to house biodefense lab
  The Department of Homeland Security has selected Kansas State University to be the site of its $450 million National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. The research center, which will focus on livestock ailments and biological dangers, is expected to give the state's economy a significant boost. Texas and Mississippi, however, are thinking about challenging the agency's decision. The Guardian (London)/The Associated Press (12/8)

• FDA review: Long-acting asthma drugs pose serious risks
  The FDA should revoke clearance for asthma drugs known as long-acting beta agonists for children in light of clinical evidence linking them to a higher risk of asthma attacks and death, according to a review from the agency's drug-safety personnel. The FDA plans to gather a panel of outside experts this week to evaluate the safety of AstraZeneca's Symbicort, Novartis AG's Foradil and GlaxoSmithKline's Advair and Serevent. NYTimes.com (12/5), Reuters (12/5)

• Other News

• Injectable polymer could help mend broken bones
  BBC (12/7)

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Company & Financial News

• FDA analysis raises concerns about Synvisc-One trial
  FDA staff expressed concerns about Genzyme's study of Synvisc-One, a single-dose version of its injectable treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee, saying it was conducted in a small population and did not undergo adequate agency evaluation because it took place in Europe. The review, however, said the medicine seems as safe as the older formulation. An advisory committee will meet Tuesday to consider Synvisc-One for approval. Reuters (12/5)

• Merck looks to RNAi to enhance conventional treatments
  While biotech firms are using RNA interference to suppress genes that make proteins in diseases including cancer and AIDS, Merck & Co. is using the technology to improve the efficacy of drugs in its pipeline. One of Merck's promising programs is a delivery system called lipid nanoparticles, which could aid in treating viral hepatitis or other liver-related disorders. Reuters (12/7)

• Studies: Rituxan plus chemotherapy works for leukemia
  Two studies found that a combination of chemotherapy and Rituxan, a cancer drug from Genentech and Roche Holding, was better than chemotherapy alone in lowering the risk of death or disease progression in people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Genentech will seek FDA approval "as soon as possible" to market the medicine to newly diagnosed CLL patients and those whose symptoms have returned, a company executive said. Yahoo!/Reuters (12/6), Bloomberg (12/7)

• Stanford gets $94M in funding from CIRM
  The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has awarded $94 million in funding to Stanford University, which plans to use part of the money for the construction of the Lorry I. Lokey Stem Cell Research Building. The facility will focus on embryonic and adult stem cells and is expected to be finished by July 2010, a university official said. American City Business Journals/San Jose, Calif. (12/5)

• Other News

• Silence Therapeutics plans to test cancer treatment in humans
  Pharmaceutical Business Review Online (12/5)

• Groups urge members of Chinese community in Canada to donate stem cells
  CBC.ca (Canada) (12/7)

Food & Agriculture

• FDA official: Texas incident involving biotech cotton not a safety risk
  An experimental cotton seed from Monsanto that was bioengineered to generate a pesticide-producing protein was mistakenly combined with commercial cotton in Texas in October, but authorities said the incident is not linked to safety risks. An FDA senior adviser said animal feed produced from the harvested crop containing the biotech cotton was used at cattle-feed lots. Amarillo Globe-News (Texas)/The Associated Press (12/7)

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by BIO SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Biotech firms in Calif.'s Bay Area streamline operations (San Francisco Chronicle)

• Goldman Sachs looks to invest in drug R&D, exec says (Financial Times)

• U.K. biotech industry asks government for financial aid (Financial Times (free content))

• Drugmakers under fire from EU for moves to block follow-on biologics (The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model))

• Stroke patient responds well to stem cell therapy (Reuters)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Industrial & Environmental

• Report: EU sticks to proposed 10% biofuel target
  Member countries of the EU, along with the European Parliament and the European Commission, have decided to uphold a January proposal that calls for the use of vehicle fuels mixed with 10% biofuel by 2020, according to a report from Deutsche Welle. The deal also states that only biofuels that can reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 50% will be included in the 10% goal by 2017, according to the report. United Press International (12/5)

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