@FierceBiotech: After a Phase III flop, Acucela plots a $120M Japanese IPO. More | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Gilead races to the FDA with stellar PhIII results for breakthrough hep C combo. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce
@DamianFierce: Transcept: "Retrophin never presented any credible evidence of ability to finance purchase of our stock." Release | Follow @DamianFierce
@EmilyMFierce: Last issue of FierceBiotech Research until 2014: Newsletter. Until then, read us on the web: FierceBiotechResearch.com | Follow @EmilyMFierce
> Acceleron Pharma ($XLRN) hauled in a $7 million milestone under its codevelopment deal with Celgene ($CELG) after sotatercept advanced to Phase II for patients with end-stage renal disease. Under the agreement, Acceleron is eligible for another $360 million tied to development, regulatory and commercial goals. Release
> Halozyme ($HALO) has recruited former Onyx Pharmaceuticals COO Helen Torley to serve as its next CEO, with outgoing chief Gregory Frost planning to join Intrexon ($XON) on Jan. 6. Both companies are backed by billionaire RJ Kirk. News
> Now that Retrophin ($RTRX) has pulled a $4-a-share offer for Transcept Pharmaceuticals ($TSPT), the latter company says its ex-suitor "never presented any credible evidence of their ability to finance the purchase of our stock." More
@FierceMedDev: Medtronic kicks off another renal denervation trial as competitors lag behind. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev
@MarkHFierce: Find out how Dx developer Xagenix attracted a robust Series B despite the tough VC funding environment. Article from FierceDiagnostics | Follow @MarkHFierce
@MichaelGFierce: Artificial cells made en masse offer insight into delivery across membrane. News | Follow @MichaelGFierce
@GalenMoore: Medtronic plans a $6M expansion in Puerto Rico. Takeaway: I get to write about Puerto Rico after I shovel snow. More | Follow @GalenMoore
> Apollo Endosurgery raises $90M to help pay for Allergan's obesity intervention business. Article
> Stryker agrees to settle four metal hip lawsuits as hundreds more loom. Story
> Report: Man peddling a 'Star Trek'-style medical scanner will admit to fraud. Item
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: Best-read this morning: GSK scraps doc payments, sales rep quotas in global marketing revamp. More | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: FDA, EMA to share "information on inspections of bioequivalence studies" on generics. News | Follow @EricPFierce
@CarlyHFierce: A U.S. competitor to AstraZeneca's Nexium is here. Release | Follow @CarlyHFierce
> AstraZeneca's Nexium gets a Korean competitor to chase it over the patent cliff. Story
> Pfizer head-scratcher: Schulman was toasted on Thursday, toast by Tuesday. Article
> Pfizer gives Teva a lift with deal for Viagra generic launch in 2017. Report
Drug Delivery News
> Magnetic sperm-driven micro-robots swim to deliver drugs. More
> Artificial cells made en masse offer insight into delivery across membrane. Article
> Austrian team improves RNAi 'hairpin' structures for more efficient delivery. Story
> 'Walking' DNA motor on nanotube tracks could someday deliver drugs. Piece
> Belgian Cardio3 BioSciences corrals $5.5M for stem cell delivery tech trial. News
> Alnylam begins PhII trial for amyloidosis RNAi treatment. Item
Diagnostics News
> FDA warning: Avoid using test vs. mammography as cancer Dx screening tool. News
> Cynvenio, CollabRx will use data to personalize the cancer Dx process. More
> In tough funding times, Xagenic's detailed Dx work drew plenty of VC. Piece
> Natera finds Hong Kong berth for prenatal screening test. Story
> Navidea wants the FDA to approve a wider use of its injectable cancer imaging agent. Article
> Sundance Diagnostics is linking with Max Planck Institute on a suicide-risk blood test. More
> University of Cambridge finds one test now possible for most blood cancers. Item