Medtronic won approval for its Endeavor drug-eluting stent, making it the third player in a market likely to get much more competitive.

The decision by Sepracor to in-license the US marketing rights to inhaled corticosteroid Alvesco caps a four-year commercial and regulatory odyssey for the asthma drug.

Merck/Schering-Plough launched patient education ads for Vytorin and Zetia in newspapers over the weekend while temporarily suspending broadcast advertising for the brands.

Shire Pharmaceuticals tapped InVentiv's Palio to handle professional advertising and promotion for Fosrenol, which is indicated for hyperphosphatemia in patients with end stage renal disease.

Novo Nordisk discontinued its experimental AERx inhaler and took a charge of $260 million in 2007, saying the product offered little clinical benefit.

Zetia doesn't even move the needle.

Eli Lilly said the FDA has approved Cialis (tadalafil) for once daily use in 2.5 mg and 5 mg doses to treat erectile dysfunction (ED).

Sciele Pharma said the FDA has approved all four dosage strengths of the new Sular formulation, which utilizes SkyePharma's patented Geomatrix technology and provides a lower dose of Sular for each of its current doses.

Merck and Addex Pharmaceuticals entered a deal to develop a drug candidate for schizophrenia, under which Merck will pay Addex up to $702 million in cash plus royalties.

Indevus Pharmaceuticals has received a non-approvable letter from FDA for Valstar related to its chemistry, manufacturing and controls NDA supplement submitted to the FDA in May 2007.