• Illumina Inc., of San Diego, said its board sent a letter urging stockholders to reject the unsolicited bid by Basel, Switzerland-based Roche AG. In January, Roche made a $5.7 billion offer to acquire the tools firm. (See BioWorld Today, Jan. 26, 2012.)

• Pfizer Inc., of New York, faces a federal lawsuit filed by St. Louis-based law firm Carey, Danis & Lowe, alleging that birth defects resulted in a child after the mother was prescribed and ingested antidepressant drug Zoloft (sertraline) while pregnant. Zoloft, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is approved in several indications, including major depressive disorder.

• Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Parsippany, N.J., said its subsidiary filed an abbreviated new drug application seeking approval to market Niacin extended-release tablets, generic versions of Niaspan from Abbott, of Abbott Park, Ill. Earlier this month, Abbott filed suit against Watson, resulting in a stay of final FDA approval for up to 30 months or until final resolution of the matter before the court, whichever occurs first.