The FDA said an analysis of 41 trials suggests the statin class poses no risk of Lou Gehrig’s disease. There are anecdotal reports of other central nervous complications with the statin class that remain unresolved. Here’s the agency’s statement.

Bio-Imaging Technologies appointed Peter Benton as president of its electronic data capture division, Phoenix Data Systems. Benton succeeds William Claypool, the EDC firm’s founder, who is leaving to start a consulting firm called Pennmark Associates. Benton has worked in both the sponsor and vendor communities, at JNJ and etrials. Said Mark Weinstein, president and CEO of Bio-Imaging: “We are very pleased to welcome Peter to our senior management team and believe that Peter possesses the domain experience and leadership skills necessary to strategically position the company in the rapidly growing eclinical market.”

PharmaNet has been downgraded by S&P to “junk” level. The company has struggled with order cancellations of late. Here’s a wire service story.

A financial website admires Kendle International but incorrectly calls it one of the “smaller” contract research organizations. Some people on Wall Street, as we’ve seen lately, believe surprising things. The site asserts Kendle has special expertise in megatrials of more than 10,000 patients.

Transenda updated its clinical trial management system, which closely connects with Microsoft networking and applications, allowing clinical trial professionals to draw on data and documents in the familiar Office applications. “TranSenda’s Office-Smart Clinical Trial Manager eliminates wasted time caused by switching between clinical applications and other sources of data, providing study professionals with the up-to-date information they need to effectively and efficiently manage their trials,” the company said in this news release.

The deal between Covance and WuXi AppTec to collaborate on preclinical projects in China has fallen apart. The two companies will pursue their strategies separately. “We plan to build a comprehensive preclinical capability that matches the high-quality facilities and scientific teams our clients have grown to trust in Europe and North America,” said Joe Herring, Covance chairman and CEO. Here’s the release.

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