Wyeth and Elan have suspended a clinical study of their jointly developed Alzheimer's vaccine ACC-001 after a patient receiving the treatment was hospitalized for nearly two weeks with skin ulcers.

Novartis' head of global drug development James Shannon will leave the company as the drugmaker continues a reorganization of its pharmaceuticals division.

Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT) have devised an innovative medication monitoring device that could prove to be a useful tool for pharma researchers and marketers of the future.

Zetia doesn't even move the needle.

Genzyme has entered into a $325 million licensing deal with Isis Pharmaceuticals to commercialize mipomersen, Isis' lipid-lowering treatment for high-risk cardiovascular patients.

The FDA approved 19 novel drugs last year, the lowest number since 1983, according to published reports.

Takeda Pharmaceutical has submitted a new DPP-IV diabetes drug candidate -- Alogliptin -- in hopes the drug will replace its major earner Actos which loses patent protection in 2011.

Competitors have stepped up efforts to market generic versions of some of Wyeth's biggest drugs, threatening to sap hundreds of millions of dollars in sales.

David Epstein, president of Novartis Oncology, said he hopes the drug maker will be able to start selling four new cancer treatments by the year 2011.

Novartis said it will expand its collaboration with German biotech firm MorphoSys as the two companies enter a 10-year deal valued at $600 million focused on discovery and development of antibody-based biological drugs.