Pharma Roundup: Merck's Gardasil for Men, King's No-Abuse Painkiller, and More

(MoneyWatch)  Merck wants Gardasil approved for males -- The HPV vaccine, already successful despite several controversies, showed promising results for preventing genital warts in young men. About a quarter of young women in the United States have received the treatment, which costs $300-$400 for three shots, and Merck sold $400 million worth of the drug in the third quarter. [Source: CNBC's Pharma's Market, WSJ Health Blog]

King's new painkiller gets FDA nod -- An advisory committee reported that Remoxy is less likely to be abused than the notorious OxyContin, its chemical cousin. The market for painkillers which can't be snorted, injected, or otherwise consumed for an illicit high is predicted to be huge. According to King, a 5% market share would bring $700 million in sales. [Source: Pharmalot]

Close ties between pharma and universities -- The line between academic research and commercial research is blurring more than ever, according to Chemical & Engineering News. A new $5 million partnership between Pfizer and Washington University illustrates the trend of close collaboration. [Source: FierceBiotech]