— In Botswana, researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stopped investigating whether the prophylactic use of antiretrovirals could protect against HIV infections because too few people were infected with the virus during a trial. The good news: the results point to declining HIV rates and better prevention in the country. (Reuters)

— After nine cases of H1N1 were reported in the North Korea, South Korea sent its northern neighbor $15 million-worth of anti-flu drugs, enough for 500,000 people. The gift — the first government-level assistance in two years between the two countries — comes just in time for the holiday, not to mention flu season. (BBC)

— A US Department of Health and Human Services report found that the country’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention failed to identify or resolve the financial conflicts of interest of more than half of its vaccine advisory panel members in 2007. Some advisers even voted on matters they were legally barred from considering. (NYTimes)

— Wisconsin-based Cellular Dynamics International introduced the first commercial product using induced pluripotent stem cells — heart cells called ‘iCell cardiomyocites’. The made-to-order cells can be used for drug research, and are not just another iPhone app. (Financial Times)

Image by ohadweb via Flickr Creative Commons