Ex-Synta chief Whitaker lands at Valeant; GW Pharma raising $180M;

@FierceBiotech: Activists get their way as Ariad CEO Berger steps down. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: I asked CRISPR Tx CEO Novak if he was prepping an IPO. (Answer: all options open) Felt damn silly even asking, but you have to these days. | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Zymoquizyme got robbed. RT @CarlyHFierce What's in a (drug) name? We asked the #FierceMadness champs. More | Follow @DamianFierce

> Former Synta ($SNTA) CEO Anne Whitaker has joined Valeant Pharmaceuticals ($VRX), stepping in as an executive vice president. More

> The FDA accepted AbbVie ($ABBV) and Biogen's ($BIIB) application for the long-acting multiple sclerosis treatment daclizumab. News

> Viking Therapeutics ($VKTX) priced a $24 million IPO, moving 3 million shares at $8 each. Item

> The U.K.'s GW Pharmaceuticals ($GWPH) is raising $180 million to push its cannabis-derived epilepsy drug forward. Story

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: NuVasive gains on $14M DOJ settlement over improper Medicare, Medicaid claims. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev

@VarunSaxena2: Drug testing company Cordant raises $12.8M as it seeks to be fragmented industry's one-stop shop. More | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@EmilyWFierce: #France's Labco looks to make market entree with €545 million IPO. Article | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Philips ramping up CT scan production following €100M quality improvement plan at Cleveland facility. More

> Kaiser backs startup in $12.5M round to speed healthcare data integration. Story

> NuVasive gains on $14M DOJ settlement over improper Medicare, Medicaid claims. Article

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: $GSK buoyed by early numbers on Anoro, Breo DTC campaigns. More | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Manufacturing plant cost baked into $2.5B Biogen CEO says it will cost to develop Alzheimer's drug. Item | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: What's in a (drug) name? We asked the #FierceMadness champs. Article | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> AstraZeneca scores fast-track FDA review for big new Brilinta use. News

> After topping Q1 estimates, Valeant hikes guidance on Salix buy. Story

> Express Scripts: Fight against cancer drug prices 'much bigger' than hep C. More

Biotech Research News

> Mayo Clinic study finds a potential Achilles' heel for HER2-positive cancer. Story

> Better than RNAi? Emory team modifies CRISPR-Cas9 tech for viral infections. News

> Yale collaborators use gene editing tech to fix a cystic fibrosis mutation. Article

> International team opens a 'new frontier' in diabetes research. More

> Google's Calico continues its partnering romp on aging R&D with Buck collaboration. More

Diagnostics News

> Researchers show Adaptive's next-gen sequencing tech can diagnose recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma. Story

> Veracyte unveils $40M private placement to generate cash for R&D. Article

> Biocartis charges ahead with $109M IPO to fuel product development. More

> Drug testing company Cordant raises $12.8M as it seeks to be fragmented industry's one-stop shop. News

> Roche charges ahead with diagnostics R&D after sealing Foundation deal. Report

Pharma Marketing News

> Time for an asthma check, doc? AstraZeneca-sponsored EHR reminders will tell you. More

> GSK buoyed by early numbers on Anoro, Breo DTC campaigns. News

> Merck could be in for big Januvia boost, thanks to 'completely balanced' heart data. Report

> AbbVie says disappointing Viekira sales numbers are misleading. Article

> Pharma earns failing marks for integrity, but it beats advertising. Story