Riding on third-quarter profits that surprised some analysts thanks to the sale of its spray drug for menopause symptoms earlier this year, Vivus Inc. began the first of two pivotal Phase III trials with Qnexa, the combination phentermine/topiramate drug dosed once daily for obesity. (BioWorld Today)

The FDA's stance on generics - at least on versions of the blood thinner Lovenox, such as Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s M-Enoxaparin (and probably similar compounds from Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. and Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc. - became somewhat clearer last week, sadly and surprisingly for hanging-on Momenta investors who watched the stock's value tumble 58 percent, closing at $5.67. (BioWorld Financial Watch)