@FierceBiotech: Countering skeptics, Alnylam claims pioneering first in RNAi cholesterol study. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Biogen Idec strikes $299M deal for Isis antisense drug. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce
@RyanMFierce: Quintiles has formed a new digital unit, using websites to tap patients for trials. News | Follow @RyanMFierce
> Achillion says its mid-stage hep C drug, ACH-1625, has won fast track status at the FDA. Story
> Vernalis has forged a drug discovery collaboration with Genentech, using its fragment and structure-based drug discovery platform against an undisclosed target. Vernalis release
> Australia's Phylogica has inked a discovery pact with J&J's Janssen, putting the biotech's Phylomer peptide platform to use in finding new drug classes. Phylogica release
> The upstart Ascletis, a U.S./China joint venture biotech company, has won a $1.6 million grant from Hangzhou National Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone. Release
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: The top 10 pharma layoffs of 2011. Report | Follow @FiercePharma
> Novartis idles plant, throwing off OTC drug supplies. News
> Which pharmas win the hedge-fund popularity contest? Story
Drug Delivery News
> India researchers pursue nanoparticle rabies treatment. Report
> New year brings new delay for SkyePharma's Flutiform asthma inhaler. Article
> ThromboGenics gears up marketing plans for eyeball injection drug. Story
> FDA issues new guidelines for transmucosal delivery of pain drug. News
> Veloxis, Athena ink deal for pill combining 2 heart disease drugs. Item
> Alnylam, Medtronic RNAi drug-device combo wows with preclinical data. Report
Biomarker News
> Biomarker could quickly diagnose heart attack. Story
> Breast cancer gene triggers mesothelioma response. Report
> When it comes to weight loss, watch the biomarkers and not the scale. Article
> CSF biomarkers could differentiate types of dementia. News
> Brain imaging could serve as Huntington's disease biomarker. Report
> Alzheimer's disease imaging signature predicts cognitive. Item
Medical Device News
> Corinthian raises $2M, sets sights on eye drug delivery device. Story
> Medtronic gets FDA OK for remote diabetes monitor. News
> Smith & Nephew to spin off biologics unit into JV. Article
> AirStrip scores regulatory win in EU. More
And Finally... Chinese officials sought to reassure the public after a bus driver died from bird flu, noting that the viral strain he died from could not spread from human to human. Story