• Abbott, of Abbott Park, Ill., has pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $1.5 billion as part of a settlement with U.S. federal and state authorities to resolve issues related to the big pharma's off-label promotion of Depakote, according to the Justice Department. Abbott will pay $800 million to resolve civil allegations, $700 million for a criminal penalty and $100 million to states to resolve consumer protection issues. The company said the funds were previously reserved in anticipation of the settlement. The pharma agreed to plead guilty to one misdemeanor violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act for misbranding, and agreed to certain other conditions, including maintenance of specified compliance measures and annual certification regarding its state of compliance by its CEO and board for a five-year probation period. In connection, the firm said it would separate into two publicly traded companies by year-end. The compliance measures and certification requirements will transfer to the research-based pharmaceutical company, AbbVie, upon separation, as the obligations relate to the U.S. pharma business. Depokote is approved for use in epilepsy, bipolar disorder and migraine headaches. The drug earned $1.58 billion in sales for 2007, according to BioWorld Snapshots, but with its patent expired, less expensive generics have grabbed market share.

• ActiveSite Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Berkeley, Calif., received a Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Eye Institute to support its program in orally active plasma kallikrein inhibitors for diabetic macular edema. The award is worth up to $1.3 million, and will be used for preclinical safety and toxicology studies on the company's lead candidate, which are intended to support filing of an investigational new drug application with the FDA for Phase I trials.

• China Shenghuo Pharmaceutical Holdings Inc., of Kunming, China, said it received a deficiency letter from the NYSE Amex LLC stating that the firm resolved the continued listing referenced in a Sept. 22, 2010, letter. However, as a result of the company sustaining losses, which are so substantial in relation to its overall operations or its existing financial resources, or its financial condition has become so impaired that it appears questionable, the firm is no longer in compliance with another section of the listing requirements. China Shenghuo has until July 2 to submit a plan for regaining compliance or face delisting procedures.

• Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Marlborough, Mass., said Zetonna (ciclesonide) nasal aerosol, 74 mcg once daily, will be available for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in the third quarter, in time for the fall allergy season. It was approved by the FDA in January. The company also reported that the FDA approved an expanded dose range for Latuda, a drug approved for schizophrenia. The decision was based on a review of the supplemental new drug application submitted in June 2011. The new approval increased the recommended maximum dose from 80 mg/day to 160 mg/day, based on studies showing those doses were safe and effective.