Former California biotech executive convicted of fraud in marketing of Actimmune drug

October 12th, 2009 Allstate names chief marketing officerNORTHBROOK, Ill. — Allstate Corp.

September 30th, 2009 House passes registry for convicted arsonistsWASHINGTON — The House has passed a bill sought by California lawmakers that would create a national registry of convicted arsonists. The House passed a similar bill two years ago, but the effort stalled in the Senate.

September 11th, 2009 Washington Post marketing executive resignsWASHINGTON — The Washington Post says a marketing executive who helped organize a plan to offer discussions with government officials and the newspaper's journalists has resigned. Lobbyists and business leaders would have paid $25,000 to attend them.

August 11th, 2009 High-profile Calif. real estate agent acquittedLOS ANGELES — A high-profile Beverly Hills real estate agent has been acquitted of participating in a massive mortgage fraud scheme that caused federally insured banks to lose more than $40 million.

August 3rd, 2009 Cardinal Health buys imaging company BiotechDUBLIN, Ohio — Cardinal Health Inc. said Monday it agreed to buy radiologic imaging company Biotech for an undisclosed amount.

August 3rd, 2009 THE INFLUENCE GAME: Biotech drug lobbying warWASHINGTON — With the nation's $46 billion biological drug market at stake, the war between makers of the pricey biotech medicines and their would-be generic competitors has involved millions of dollars in lobbying, thousands in campaign contributions and uncounted visits to members of Congress. And one noteworthy letter.

July 31st, 2009 Drug users may fall through crack in Calif. budgetSACRAMENTO, Calif.

July 14th, 2009 High-tech drugs would get 12-yr market protectionWASHINGTON — Senators agreed Monday to give high-tech biologic drugs 12 years of market protection before generic versions can compete. The vote in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee was a victory for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries but a defeat for the Obama administration and AARP.

June 15th, 2009 Court goes further spelling out deportation rulesWASHINGTON — The Supreme Court says immigration officials do not have to have a jury determine the financial impact of an immigrant's crime in their deportation decisions. The court, in an unanimous decision Monday, turned away Manoj Nijhawan's appeal.

June 11th, 2009 FTC pans biotech demands for generic competitionWASHINGTON — The biotechnology industry's demand for up to 14 years of competition-free marketing before cheaper copies of their drugs can be launched is unnecessary and would discourage development of new treatments, the Federal Trade Commission told lawmakers Thursday. As the administration accelerates its push to reform U.S.

June 8th, 2009 Top Democrat pushes for action on biotech drugsWASHINGTON — As the Obama administration renews its health care reform effort on Capitol Hill, a top Democrat is calling for speedy action on a yearslong effort to create generic competition for costly biotech drugs. President Barack Obama used his weekly radio address on Saturday to call on Congress to act on his proposal to overhaul the nation's health care system.

May 12th, 2009 Mass. biotech firm explores strategic alternativesLEXINGTON, Mass. — A struggling Massachusetts biotechnology firm says it's exploring a number of strategic options, including a possible sale or a merger.

May 8th, 2009 Iran hangs 9 people for murder, drug traffickingTEHRAN, Iran — Nine people, including a 30-year-old woman, have been hanged in Iran, state media reported Thursday. The state-run daily newspaper IRAN said four of the nine including the woman were convicted of murder in separate cases and were hanged Wednesday.

April 24th, 2009 FDA clears potential blockbuster arthritis drugWASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a potential blockbuster drug from Johnson & Johnson that fights three forms of arthritis caused by immune-system disorders. The injectable medication called Simponi is essentially a follow-up to the multibillion-dollar drug Remicade, which is marketed in the U.S.

April 22nd, 2009 Sierra Leone sends 3 to US to face drug chargesFREETOWN, Sierra Leone — Sierra Leone authorities say three men convicted of drug smuggling have been sent to the U.S. where they are wanted on similar charges.