The news summaries appearing in BIO SmartBrief are based on original information from news organizations and are produced by SmartBrief, Inc., an independent e-mail newsletter publisher. The information is not compiled or summarized by BIO. Questions and comments should be directed to SmartBrief at bio@smartbrief.com.

Today's Top Story

• Humira, Advair, Rituxan lead list of best-selling drugs in 2012
  AbbVie's Humira, or adalimumab, topped this list of last year's 20 best-selling drugs based on publicly available figures. GlaxoSmithKline's Advair came in second, followed by Roche Holding's Rituxan, or rituximab. Rounding out the top 10 were Sanofi's Lantus, Roche's Herceptin, AstraZeneca's Crestor, Johnson & Johnson's Remicade, Roche's Avastin, Eli Lilly and Co.'s Cymbalta, and Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb's Plavix. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (3/5)     

Panel Gives Thumbs-Down to Depomed's Hot Flash Drug

The modest reduction in menopause-related vasomotor symptoms (VMS) recorded in three Phase III trials was not sufficient to warrant the side-effect risk associated with gabapentin, according to the FDA's Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee, which voted 12-2 to recommend against Depomed Inc.'s Sefelsa (formerly Serada). Find out the details.

Health Care & Policy

• White House to Congress: Exempt FDA user fees from sequester
  The Obama administration urged Congress to allow the FDA to spend $41 billion in drugmaker user fees. The sequestration law limits the amount of fee-derived funds that the agency can spend, and experts warn that the agency will not be able to approve new drug and device applications quickly if the funds are subject to sequestration. Sequestration will slow progress toward cures and cost thousands of researchers their jobs, the White House warned. PharmaTimes (U.K.) (3/5), The Philadelphia Inquirer (2/28)     

• Kadcyla and companion diagnostics win FDA nods
  The FDA approved Dako's HercepTest and HER2 IQFISH pharmDx tools as companion diagnostics for Kadcyla, or ado-trastuzumab emtansine, a drug for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer from Genentech. The agency also approved Kadcyla. GenomeWeb Daily News (free registration) (3/5)     

• FDA accepts Biogen Idec's hemophilia B drug for review
  The FDA has set a timeline to review Biogen Idec's biologics license application for its recombinant factor IX Fc fusion protein as a therapy for patients with hemophilia B. The drug is among a new class of long-lasting clotting factor therapies in the pipeline for hemophilia B. Boston Herald (3/4)     

• Presage, Celgene ally to identify new drug combos for solid tumor
  Presage Biosciences and Celgene entered into a research alliance to find new drug combinations for solid tumors. Presage will get $5 million upfront, $8 million in equity investment plus potential future payments. American City Business Journals/Seattle (3/5), Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (3/5)     

• CytRx proceeds with midstage study of lung cancer drug
  CytRx has finished enrolling 140 patients for a midstage trial of tamibarotene, an oral retinoid compound, as a first-line therapy for advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer. The firm expects to release trial results this year. Pharmaceutical Business Review Online (3/5)     

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Company & Financial News

• 25 life sciences firms receive $25M in tax incentives in Mass.
  A group of 25 biotech companies, including Biogen Idec, Nova BioMedical, PerkinElmer and Boston Heart Diagnostics, will receive more than $25 million in tax incentives from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. The incentives are intended to encourage the companies to promote job growth in the state. MassDevice.com (Boston) (3/4)     

• EKF moves to make inroads in molecular Dx market
  EKF Diagnostics has agreed to acquire 360 Genomics, which specializes in mutation detection technology, for $2.4 million worth of company stock and as much as $12.1 million in milestone cash payments. The deal will allow EKF to expand its point-of-care testing portfolio as well as make inroads in the molecular diagnostics arena. Clinica (subscription required) (3/4)     

Food & Agriculture

• U.S. adviser: Food crisis may urge Europe to adopt biotechnology
  It may take a food crisis before European countries change their stance on biotech foods, said Jack Bobo, a senior adviser on biotechnology for the U.S. State Department. Bobo said biotechnology can help address the rising food demand, and he called on European leaders to talk about the benefits of the technology. Farmers Weekly Interactive (U.K.) (3/5)     

Industrial & Environmental

• Supporters hopeful of biofuel bill's passage in Minn.
  Biofuel supporters are hopeful that Minnesota lawmakers will adopt legislation seeking to expand the market for E15, biobutanol and other renewable fuels in the state. Unlike measures in other states, the bill would boost support for both corn-based ethanol and next-generation biofuels, said Brian Kletscher, CEO of Highwater Ethanol. EthanolProducer.com (3/5)     

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