WRAL Tech Wire

 Report: Novartis looking to buy as cash improves

The company is paying down debt from its Alcon purchase and looks to be debt-free in four years, the Financial Times said.

 What pandemic? $260 million worth of H1N1 vaccine to go up in smoke

A whopping 40 million does of the vaccine expires – and another 30 million doses are likely to be unused, federal government says. GSK, Novartis were among the big H1N1 vaccine providers.

 FDA slaps GSK, Novartis, Astellas for ad, Web claims

Letters sent to the three companies concerned claims made for cancer, pain and bladder-control drugs.

 Local Tech Briefs: Cisco reports tandberg is finally a done deal; Novartis shows positive trial data for MS treatment; New chief for Novozymes' Va. unit

 Viamet Pharmaceuticals signs license deal with Novartis topping $200M

Morrisville-based firm, which was co-founded by UNC-CH Chancellor Holden Thorp, will work with venture arm of Swiss drug giant in researching potential metal-based enzyme inhibitors.

Viamet

 Novartis, which is building $1 billion plant in Holly Springs, names new CEO

Drug giant reports strong earnings. It also will pay a $185 million fine in case involving the marketing of its epilepsy drug Trileptal.

Novartis' new CEO Joe Jimenez, left, and Chairman Daniel Vasella

 Novartis to buy eye-care products maker Alcon in $38.5B deal

Swiss drug maker, which recently opened massive vaccine plant in Holly Springs, N.C., will buy out remainder of Alcon that is held by Nestle SA and other minority shareholders.

 Novartis continues U.S. expansion with $120M purchase of California firm

 It’s opening day for $1 billion Novartis plant in Holly Springs

Mammoth 430,000-square-foot facility could be ready to produce a key ingredient for H1N1 vaccine in December, Swiss company says. Plant will be first in U.S. to produce vaccines based on cell cultures.

New Novartis plant.

 Novartis to celebrate $600 million Holly Springs plant opening on Nov. 24.

Massive facility will be used for production of H1N1 vaccine. Some 300 people are expected to be hired. Novartis is under contract to produce vaccine for U.S. government.

Novartis' plant in Holly Springs

 Novartis, which is building vaccine plant in Holly Springs, posts slight profit increase