Merck, Sanofi delay animal health JV; Dutch gov't to sell off public vaccine ops;

@FiercePharma: J&J cuts Weldon's bonus, but grants raise for 2011. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

Merck said ongoing reviews by antitrust regulators will delay the formation of a new animal-health joint venture with Sanofi-Aventis until the third quarter. Report

The Dutch government has put the manufacturing operations of the Netherlands Vaccine Institute up for sale following a decision to cease government-owned production of vaccines. News

PDL BioPharma has agreed to settle a legal dispute with Novartis; it will pay the Swiss drugmaker an amount based on the net sales of the eye drug Lucentis this year and beyond. Item

German generics maker Stada forecast sales and earnings to grow this year and next and said cost cuts may help boost 2011 core earnings to a fresh all-time high. Article

Ranbaxy Laboratories, controlled by Japan's Daiichi Sankyo, will market four of the parent company's drugs in Singapore. Report

The FDA has suggested manufacturers consider removing zinc from denture creams following reports of neurological problems that might be associated with zinc poisoning. Story

Shire said its Intuniv hyperactivity drug has been approved by FDA for use in combination with a stimulant to treat children and adolescents aged six to 17. Item

The U.K.'s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has put out a call to Swiss drugmaker Roche for more data in support of cancer drug MabThera's use on the National Health Service. Article

The European Medicines Agency's decision to allow former executive director Thomas Lonngren to take up an advisory role within the pharmaceutical industry--just weeks after leaving his position at EMA--risks conflicts of interest, campaigners have claimed. Report

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Aggressive midcap biotechs suit up for the M&A game. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Biotech and pharma boundaries will continue to blur. Follow @JohnCFierce

Daiichi Sankyo nabs tiny Plexxikon in $935M deal. Story

Forest, Nycomed win narrow FDA approval on new COPD drug. Item

Pfizer updates late-stage pipeline prospects and discards. Article

Biotech Research News

The search for model of 'animal model'. Item

Children often an afterthought in drug development. Report

Gene therapy forces breast cancer to self-destruct. News

HP uses inkjet printer tech for drug discovery. Article

Study: PSA velocity should not determine biopsy. Item

Manufacturing News

GSK boosts plant job cuts by 20. Article

FDA, Triad stung in alcohol pad recall. News

Constantino defies Cramer on pharma stocks: Buy. Report

Report: 50% of pharma serializing in 2011. Story

Pharma lobbies for tougher theft penalties. News

Cialis fakes maker sentenced in London. Item

And Finally... President Obama signed on to a bipartisan plan that would let states opt out of federal requirements three years earlier than slated in the original healthcare reform law. Report