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Oxford BioMedica announced promising additional results from the low-dose cohort of patients in the Phase I/II trial of its novel gene therapy, ProSavin, for the treatment of Parkinson?s disease. The ...

European Authority Recommends Approval of ZEVTERAT a Broad-spectrum, Anti-MRSA Cephalosporin Antibiotic to Treat Complicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections - - Beerse, Belgium . - The Committee for Me... [WebWire - Friday, november 21, 2008]

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Moody's Investors Service on Friday downgraded Eli Lilly's long-term rating to A1 from Aa3 and affirmed its Prime-1 short-term rating. The cut is in response to Lilly's tender offer for the shares of ImClone systems . "Although the ImClone acquisition creates favorable long term opportunities, Lilly's former Aa3 rating could no longer be supported because of higher financial leverage and rising operating risks due to patent exposures and pipeline setbacks," said Michael Levesque, Moody's senior vice president. The outlook is stable.

Two new partnerships are expected to boost contracts at a Buffalo life sciences firm.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Eli Lilly and Co. said Friday that it has successfully completed its tender offer for ImClone systems Inc. for $70 a share in cash. As of the tender's expiration at midnight, Nov. 20, about 95.5% of ImClone's shares were validly tendered and not withdrawn. Lilly says it plans to complete the deal through a short-form merger on or about Nov. 24.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center is moving forward with a $6.3 million plan to renovate its inpatient adult psychiatric unit.

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- The European Medicines Agency on Friday said it rejected a marketing application for Bristol-Myers Squibb drug Ixempra, with the regulator worried that damage to nerve cells didn't outweigh the "very small increase" in survival from breast cancer. Separately, it approved Amgen's Nplate to treat adult chronic immune idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Novartis' Rasilez HCT for hypertension, Roche's RoActemra arthritis drug used with methothrexate, Janssen-Cilag International's Stelara for psoriasis, Les Laboratories Servier Valdoxan for major depressive episodes in adults and Jannsen-Cilag's Zevtera for skin and soft tissue infections.

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- ZymoGenetics Inc. said Friday that its president Douglas Williams will become CEO, effective Jan. 2. Williams will succeed Bruce Carter, who will continue to serve as chairman of the board in a non-executive capacity, the company said.

A key enzyme in the biosynthesis of vitamin B1 has somehow evolved the ability to perform a complex series of some 15 to 20 steps, report two Cornell chemists. Understanding the function of the ...

In 430 B.C., a new and deadly disease - its cause remains a mystery - swept into Athens. The walled Greek city-state was teeming with citizens, soldiers and refugees of the war then raging between Ath... [WebWire - Friday, november 21, 2008]