Novartis 'Cells' Its Flu Vaccine Technology
For the second time in three weeks I'm at a flu vaccine manufacturing plant today. Construction isn't finished on the Novartis site yet, but nonetheless they're doing the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony here in Holly Springs, NC this afternoon.

May Day For Dendreon
Investors, patients and activists, no doubt, hope they won't have to put out a mayday distress call, but as Dendrama's fate would have it, the company announced today that the Food and Drug Administration has assigned May Day as its decision day for the prostate cancer treatment Provenge.

Do We Need An Arbiter?
Earlier this week I reported that Dr. Allen Taylor who ran the Abbott vs. Merck cholesterol drug study, which Abbott's drug Niaspan won, would only say that ABT has paid him more than $10,000 in lecture and consulting fees. But he wouldn't be any more specific than that.

Vivus Viagra!
VVUS this morning unveiled positive late-stage test results on the ED pill. The company touts that it takes effect in less than 30 minutes and it's out of your system within six hours or so.

Abbott, Arbiter & Avoidance
When I do an interview with a clinical trial investigator I typically try to take care of what I call the "housekeeping" at the beginning or end.