Patients, researchers want industry financial ties disclosed; Amgen taps Bradway as president, COO;

@FiercePharma: Generics association scrambles to win back Teva. Report | Follow @FiercePharma

An analysis of previously published studies finds that patients, researchers and journal readers believe financial relationships between medicine and industry should be disclosed, partly because of concerns that financial ties may influence research and clinical care. Report

Amgen says its chief financial officer, Robert Bradway, has been named president and chief operating officer, effective May 11, while EVP George Morrow will retire at the end of January 2011. Report

The Irish government's plans to introduce reference pricing for medicines next year could lead to drug shortages, if prices are set so low that manufacturers decide not to supply the market. Report

An Indiana drugmaker that is North America's sole manufacturer of a multidrug-resistant tuberculosis drug is closing its doors after five years. Report

Eye-care products maker Alcon, which is being acquired by Swiss drugmaker Novartis, reported that first-quarter profit rose 27 percent as it gained market share in key product areas, including implanted lenses and glaucoma. Report

McNeil Pediatrics, a unit of Johnson & Johnson, says a federal court has denied an appeal of a decision invalidating patents for its Concerta attention deficit disorder drug. Report

Critics say a trade agreement now in the works between the EU and India could make it harder for millions of patients across the developing world to get lifesaving drugs. Report

The Indian unit of GlaxoSmithKline says net sales in the three months that ended March 31 rose 18 percent to 5.41 billion rupees from 4.57 billion rupees. Report

The Japanese drug company Astellas Pharma will break ground April 29 on its new U.S. headquarters in Glenview, Ill. Report

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Charles River Labs buys China's WuXi for $1.6B. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: The problem I see for Dendreon is that at this point an address clarification by the FDA could throw everyone in a tizzy. | Follow @JohnCFierce

Consultant: Smart biotech money betting on innovation. Story

Pluristem's stem cell therapy looks promising in Phase I. Item

Stem cell legend attracts $40M round for preclinical testing tech. Report

ExonHit buys RedPath in $32M diagnostics play. Article

Biomarkers key to better cancer trials. Report

Manufacturing News

UCB reformulating Parkinson's patch to eliminate crystals. Story

DHL continues Asian build-out as pharma shipments rise. Item

Schwabe selects square bin blender from Bohle. Report

Teva adopts Oracle E-Business Suite for Czech operations. Story

My Job: Director for manufacturing operations at Metrics Inc. Report

Biotech Research News

NIH chief: 'Wacky' science needs our support. Story

Gene research on other species delivers human drug leads. Item

New remedies block pain 'at its source'. Report

New biomarkers are the key to personalized cancer drugs. Report

And Finally ... A body of research is emerging that suggests that there's little risk to carrying a few extra pounds. Report