FDA: Eczema meds may need new warning; Hikma Pharma aims to grow to $7.7B;

@FiercePharma: Sanofi agrees to boost female reps' pay. Report | Follow @FiercePharma

Novartis and Astellas Pharma eczema drugs may need their warning labels expanded after dozens of new reported cases of cancer and infection in children, FDA staff said in documents released Thursday. Report

Hikma Pharmaceuticals has fended off seven takeover approaches in the past three years, and CEO Said Darwazah says he won't consider selling the Jordanian drugmaker until it reaches a market value of $7.7 billion. Report

The Johnson & Johnson unit that drew criticism and a federal warning letter in January on the grounds of mishandling quality control problems with Tylenol says it has taken steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. Report

Adienne Pharma & Biotech and Riemser Arzneimittel AG announced today that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted the exclusive marketing authorization to Adienne Pharma & Biotech for the orphan medicinal product TEPADINA for conditioning treatment prior to haematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation. Release

India's Dr Reddy's Laboratories received the FDA's approval to launch a generic version of Sanofi-Aventis' allergy drug Allegra. Report

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Biopharma R&D rises 2% in '09 despite recession. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Little Arca gets NASDAQ warning a week after going concern notice. A few months of cash in the bank. Needs to pay for a big trial. Gulp. | Follow @JohnCFierce

J&J rattles analysts with long delay for Alzheimer's program. Article

WSJ: FDA mapping new, faster path for cocktail drugs. Story

Roche details pipeline strategy and its 10 leading programs. Report

Manufacturing News

McNeil overhauls Tylenol QA, supply chain. Article

The FDA has indicated that from here on in, it will have limited tolerance for manufacturers that make promises they don't keep. Item

FDA posts observations from Amylin plant visit. Story

Vaccines News

Chinese officials have begun an investigation into the deaths of four children after the China Economic Times reported the use of unsafe vaccines in Shanxi--the latest in a long series of pharma-related scandals. Report

WHO suspends Indian vaccine purchases as it probes quality. Item

Just a few weeks after gaining an approval from the FDA, Novartis says that officials from the European Commission have provided a continental OK for its meningitis vaccine blockbuster Menveo. Story

And Finally... Antidepressants are effective against depression in patients suffering from physical illnesses, a study showed. Report