Drugmaker Actavis agrees debt refinancing deal

July 22 (Reuters) – Icelandic generic drugmaker Actavis has agreed a debt refinancing deal with its lenders to slash its multi-billion-euro debt load, the company said.

The group did not give details in a brief statement but said the agreement positioned it with the flexibility to continue to grow, especially in southern Europe, Japan, the Middle East and northern Africa, and increase market share in current markets.

Sources familiar with the matter had told Reuters earlier this month that key lender Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) was close to a deal with Bjorgolfur Thor Bjorgolfsson, the Icelandic tycoon who owns Actavis, to refinance the company. [ID:nLDE6661A3]

Deutsche financed Bjorgolfsson’s 4.7 billion euro ($6 billion) leveraged buyout (LBO) of Actavis, one of the world’s biggest makers of copycat drugs, in 2007. ($1=.7836 Euro) (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Hans Peters)

UPDATE 1-Arseus repeats outlook as drugs unit offsets dental

BRUSSELS, July 14 (Reuters) – Belgian medical equipment and services company Arseus NV (RCUS.BR) reiterated its outlook for 2010 as an increase in pharmacies buying in raw materials offset falls in its dental business.

Its Fagron drug ingredients unit saw second-quarter sales rise 9.2 percent, benefiting from a trend towards bespoke prescribing by doctors which resulted in pharmacies buying in ingredients to prepare treatments for patients.

This helped offset a fall of 0.9 percent in sales at its dentist equipment unit as surgeries in Belgium and France delayed buying in equipment.

Overall, the company said on Wednesday, it made 108 million euros ($136 million) of sales in the second quarter, compared with a forecast for 107 million in a reuters poll.

Arseus repeated its expectation of sales growth of 5-10 percent in 2010. (Reporting by Ben Deighton; Editing by Dan Lalor) ($1 = 0.7939 euro)

RPT-CORRECTED-BRIEF-Orion and Sun settle patent dispute

(Repeats to more subscribers) (Corrects Sun Reuters Instrument Code to SUN.BO from SUNH.O)

Healthcare

HELSINKI June 22 (Reuters) – Orion Oyj (ORNBV.HE):

* Says it has settled patent dispute with Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (SUN.BO)

* Says the settlement agreement relates to all lawsuits

* Says according to the agreement Sun will be able to launch generic versions of Parkinson’s drugs Stalevo in 2012 and Comtan in 2013 in the United States

* Says Orion will supply said generic product versions to Sun

CORRECTED-BRIEF-Orion and Sun settle patent dispute

(Corrects Sun Reuters Instrument Code to SUN.BO from SUNH.O)

Healthcare

HELSINKI June 22 (Reuters) – Orion Oyj (ORNBV.HE):

* Says it has settled patent dispute with Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (SUN.BO)

* Says the settlement agreement relates to all lawsuits

* Says according to the agreement Sun will be able to launch generic versions of Parkinson’s drugs Stalevo in 2012 and Comtan in 2013 in the United States

* Says Orion will supply said generic product versions to Sun

AVI BioPharma shares could rise: Barron’s

(Reuters) – Shares in biotechnology company AVI BioPharma (AVII.O) could rise significantly in the next 12 months if it continues to report favorable results from trials of its drugs, Barron’s reported on Sunday.

Hot Stocks

AVI BioPharma is working on treatments for high-profile diseases such as swine flu, according to Barron’s.

The company earlier this month reported positive results from a study of a drug it designed to treat a genetic muscle-wasting disease.

But AVI shares have seen little recognition from Wall Street, in part because the company has no drugs on the market, it is in the early stages of testing its treatments and it has little revenue outside of government grants, the newspaper reported.

The company is seeking a large investment partner that could help finance its drug development and help validate the company, Barron’s said. If it is able to do such a deal, AVI shares could jump significantly, the newspaper said.

AVI shares closed at $1.45 on Friday. The shares were at $1.46 at the end of 2009.

(Reporting by Elinor Comlay; Editing by Diane Craft)

Courtney Love claims she had a lesbian fling with Kate Moss

London, May 20 (ANI): Rocker Courtney Love has sensationally claimed that she bedded supermodel Kate Moss in Milan, Italy.

The widow of Nirvana star Kurt Cobain had dropped hints weeks ago about a tryst with a female pin-up, who she claimed chased her round a room, leading to a sex session.

And in a startling new magazine interview, the 45-year-old singer has now claimed: “It was Kate Moss. She doesn”t care.”

Love has also alleged that many of her female friends in London had slept with Kate.

“It”s a great story for the grandchildren, so yeah. Kate wasn”t doing a lot of drugs. It was just a thing that happened in Milan in the Nineties,” the Sun quoted her as saying.

“It happened and it was fun and whatever. And she talks about it and so I hope she doesn”t get mad that I outed her about it.

“I feel like such a kiss and tell. Kate”s great, though! Kate”s a good friend of mine. I almost bought her house in St John”s Wood, London,” she added. (ANI)

Centre airlifts essential commodities to Imphal

Imphal (Manipur), May 18 (ANI): The Central Government is airlifting essential commodities like medicines, life saving drugs and food grains to Imphal because of their shortage caused by the blockade of the Kohima Imphal highway.

The state is reeling under acute shortage of essential commodities including medicines, life saving drugs and food grains.

The Indian Air force has started airlifting the first consignment of 3.5 Metric tonnes of PDS rice from Guwahati to Imphal.

“It carries 3.5 metric tonnes of rice, this rice we will be issuing directly to the deputy commissioner of the Imphal east and west, who have been requested to organise open market sale of the rice,” said P. Vaiphei, Commissioner of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public distribution.

“We would like to give priority to the economically weak families,” he added.

Vaiphei further said people with Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards would be given priority in the distribution of essential commodities. (ANI)

Robert Pattinson wants to star in ‘Kill Your Friends’ movie remake

Melbourne, May 18 (ANI): Robert Pattinson wants to star in movie remake of the novel, ‘Kill Your Friends’.

The actor hopes to play the role of A&R (Artist and Repertoire) man Steven Stelfox in the big-screen adaptation of John Niven’s satire on music industry.

“Rob is a huge fan of the novel. He is fascinated by the music industry and is keen to get involved in the project,” the Daily Telegraph quoted a source as telling the Sun.

The insider added: “He”s already approached producers telling them he wants to play the leading man.

If he bags the role, Pattinson will be seen doing drugs, sleeping with prostitutes and committing murder.

The source said: “If he gets the role it would be the darkest part he”s ever played.

“It”s an incredibly adult character and is bound to shock the tweens who account for such a huge part of Rob”s fan base.” (ANI)

Cheryl Cole’s brother ‘arrested following armed terror raid’

London, May 14 (ANI): Cheryl Cole is reportedly in a state of shock following her brother’s alleged involvement in a robbery case.

The singer’s sibling Andrew Tweedy has reportedly been held for questioning by the cops after a violent raid in a post office at Longbenton, Newcastle.

In the attack robbers waved a gun and machete at customers and staff before making off with thousands of pounds.

Cops arrested nine people, including one woman, in connection with the robbery.

A police spokesman said: “A vehicle and firearm have been recovered.”

Northumbria Police did not reveal the identity of those arrested, reports the Daily Express.

However, a police source confirmed that unemployed Tweedy was one of those being held for questioning.

Tweedy’s life has been marked with drugs, alcohol and solvent abuse, along with anxiety and depression. (ANI)

How a pet pooch can help treat Parkinson”s

London, May 13 (ANI): A significant treatment for Parkinson”s disease has been revealed by doctors – a pet pooch.

Health of a 28-year-old woman with the brain disease improved thanks to her pooch.

The woman, who started taking large doses of four different drugs a day to control symptoms three years after being diagnosed, had a morphine pump for 14 hours a day and her health was deteriorating fast.

But after being given a highland terrier by a friend, docs reported improvements in symptoms and a drop in the drugs she needed, reports The Sun.

What’s more, she no longer needed her daily morphine.

Doctors at Imperial College London, who report her case in the Journal Of Neurology, said: “Remarkably sustained benefits occurred, with improvement in her walking and symptoms including appetite, sleep and bowel function, as well as socialisation.”

Docs are not able to zero in on the reason as to how the dog had such a dramatic effect, but they say that having to walk, feed and look after the pet encouraged her to exercise regularly. (ANI)

Oz mom who prostituted daughter, 12, with 100 men says she was “having fun”

Melbourne, May 11 (ANI): In a shocking case, a woman in Australia, who prostituted her 12-year-old daughter to 100 men, said she was “having fun”.

The 41-year-old woman has been charged for unlawfully procuring sex with a child. Also, for being the commercial operator of a sex business and receiving a fee derived directly from sexual services provided by a child.

The woman, who appeared in the Supreme Court in Hobart, pleaded guilty to all charges.

Crown Prosecutor Daryl Coates said the woman and a man named Gary John Devine had decided to prostitute the girl, since the woman was financially crunched.

The girl was advertised as “Angela, 18, new in town,” reports the Daily Telegraph.

The money earned was divided between Devine, the woman and the girl, who spent her share on drugs. (ANI)

Michael Douglas convinced prison will save son’s life

London, May 4 (ANI): Actor Michael Douglas has revealed in an interview that had his son Cameron not been sent to prison he would have lost him to drugs.

Cameron, 31, had been detained on drugs charges last year following a police raid on his New York hotel room.

He was handed a five-year jail term last month after pleading guilty to charges of methamphetamine possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of cocaine in January (10).

Douglas, 65, is convinced that the time his son spends behind bars will help him to rebuild his life.

“My son has not been sober for this length of time since he was 13 years old,” the Daily Star quoted him as America’s Today show.

“So he was going to be dead or somebody was gonna kill him, and I think he has a chance to start a new life and he knows that.

“And from my understanding, it’s going to take that amount of time for him to rebuild and start himself afresh.

“He’s a great young man. And I wouldn’t be supporting him if I didn’t feel that way,” he added. (ANI)

Downey Jnr made movies while high on crack cocaine, heroin

London, Apr 29 (ANI): Hollywood star Robert Downey Jnr has confessed to making movies while high on crack cocaine and heroin.

He said: “It used to be that you could throw me out of the back of a party van on to the set, give me a tuna melt, and I could function.”

In a mag interview, the Iron Man 2 star also explained how he was arrested in 1996 after a cocaine binge lasting at least two days. He was later bailed by his dealer”s boyfriend in Malibu, California, reports The Sun.

The 45-year-old said he then went home and took drugs he retrieved from a dustbin. (ANI)

My ‘crazy’ dad threatened to murder me: LiLo

London, April 24 (ANI): Lindsay Lohan has claimed that her father Michael once threatened to kidnap and kill her.

The 23-year-old singer retaliated after her father turned up uninvited at her residence with the police saying that he wanted to check if Lindsay and her 16-year-old sister Ali were alright, reports The Sun.

Michael said that Lindsay was in “life-threatening danger” due to her addiction to painkiller drugs – and begged Ali to return home.

“Ali is being exposed to nightlife and the people Lindsay surrounds herself with. Ali is just 16. Lindsay is not in the right frame of mind to deal with Ali,” he added.

“She had bloodshot eyes, make-up all over her face. She started shouting, ”Get out! Get out!” A so-called friend comes out of the room, looking like a walking zombie,” he said about Lindsay.

Lindsay, however, denied it and called Michael a “pathological liar”.

She posted numerous messages on her Twitter account claiming that her father is a drug-stricken “stalker” who will go to any level to gain some attention. “The only one in need of police protection here is me and Ali from our pathological, lying ex-father,” one of her posts read.

She violently denied that she is not able to care for her sister Ali. Lindsay said that Michael”s never contributed- financially or otherwise, for the upbringing of his children.

“Let”s not forget, that my father kidnapped me from a court room when I was 4 years old and is crazy. Nor was it for Michael and me when our father threatened to kidnap and kill us in front of our friends,” her Twitter page said. (ANI)

Kirstie Alley ‘regrets drugs journal’

London, April 19 (ANI): Actress Kirstie Alley has admitted that she regrets keeping a diary that she wrote while high on cocaine.

The former Cheers star, who successfully beat her drug demons in the ”90s, confessed that she cannot believe some of the diary”s outlandish entries that she composed while under the influence.

“I was a druggie. Cocaine. That is a bad drug because it makes you think you”re really smart and it makes you say really stupid things,” the Daily Star quoted her as saying.

“I wrote a journal when I was doing coke. It was like, ”this was so profound somebody”s gonna find this one day and it”s going to change their life.” It was the dumbest s**t you”ve ever heard in your life,” she added. (ANI)

Polanski prosecutors want child sex case to continue despite victim”s pleas

London, April 19 (ANI): Prosecutors involved in Roman Polanski’s child sex case have requested court officials to not accept his victim’s appeal to drop the charges against him.

Polanski was accused in 1977 of raping Samantha Geimer at a party when she was 13.

Polanski was indicted on six felony counts, including rape by use of drugs, child molesting and sodomy. He later pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse. reports The Daily Star.

Geimer filed an application to the court in October 09, asking to drop the charges against Polanski stating media rage following Polanski’s arrest has caused her physical and mental damage.

However, prosecutors are determined the case will continue, despite Geimer”s pleas to have it dropped. (ANI)

John Lennon fans uncover his hidden LSD stash area

London, April 19 (ANI): John Lennon fans believe they have uncovered an area in the late Beatle”s Surrey home where he hid his stash of LSD almost four decades ago.

Builders digging up the lawn of Lennon”s old house, Kenwood, have discovered the remains of a leather holdall containing numerous large broken glass bottles, reports the Sun.

It is believed Lennon buried a large cache of drugs in his garden in 1967 when the Fab Four decided to give up drugs in favour of transcendental meditation.

However, when the band returned from India, Lennon thought he had made a hasty decision. He tried to dig up the drugs but never found them.

But now Lennon devotees are convinced that these bottles contained the drugs, even though the truth cannot be found as the only bottle found intact had a cracked cork, thus it was empty. (ANI)

Kirstie Alley ‘regrets drugs journal’

London, April 19 (ANI): Actress Kirstie Alley has admitted that she regrets keeping a diary that she wrote while high on cocaine.

The former Cheers star, who successfully beat her drug demons in the ”90s, confessed that she cannot believe some of the diary”s outlandish entries that she composed while under the influence.

“I was a druggie. Cocaine. That is a bad drug because it makes you think you”re really smart and it makes you say really stupid things,” the Daily Star quoted her as saying.

“I wrote a journal when I was doing coke. It was like, ”this was so profound somebody”s gonna find this one day and it”s going to change their life.” It was the dumbest s**t you”ve ever heard in your life,” she added. (ANI)

Polanski prosecutors want child sex case to continue despite victim”s pleas

London, April 19 (ANI): Prosecutors involved in Roman Polanski’s child sex case have requested court officials to not accept his victim’s appeal to drop the charges against him.

Polanski was accused in 1977 of raping Samantha Geimer at a party when she was 13.

Polanski was indicted on six felony counts, including rape by use of drugs, child molesting and sodomy. He later pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse. reports The Daily Star.

Geimer filed an application to the court in October 09, asking to drop the charges against Polanski stating media rage following Polanski’s arrest has caused her physical and mental damage.

However, prosecutors are determined the case will continue, despite Geimer”s pleas to have it dropped. (ANI)

John Lennon fans uncover his hidden LSD stash area

London, April 19 (ANI): John Lennon fans believe they have uncovered an area in the late Beatle”s Surrey home where he hid his stash of LSD almost four decades ago.

Builders digging up the lawn of Lennon”s old house, Kenwood, have discovered the remains of a leather holdall containing numerous large broken glass bottles, reports the Sun.

It is believed Lennon buried a large cache of drugs in his garden in 1967 when the Fab Four decided to give up drugs in favour of transcendental meditation.

However, when the band returned from India, Lennon thought he had made a hasty decision. He tried to dig up the drugs but never found them.

But now Lennon devotees are convinced that these bottles contained the drugs, even though the truth cannot be found as the only bottle found intact had a cracked cork, thus it was empty. (ANI)