Amgen touts positive PhII results for romosozumab; Agilis partners with Intrexon;

@FierceBiotech: U.S. domination of global biomedical R&D slips as Asian budgets swell. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Is it human, animal or plant? At Bayer, they're mixing all three in new R&D recipe. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: ICYMI: FDA spurns Sanofi's MS drug Lemtrada on fatally flawed PhIII design. More | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: A New York Times reporter gets her DNA analyzed by three companies with varying results. Piece from NYT | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Amgen ($AMGN) and UCB say that the Phase II study for romosozumab (AMG 785/CDP7851) in postmenopausal women proved successful at building bone mineral density. Researchers concluded that 12 months of treatment with romosozumab "significantly increased BMD at the lumbar spine, total hip and femoral neck. Significant increases were also observed in the first BMD assessment at three months. Moreover, in exploratory analyses, increases observed at the lumbar spine and hip were significantly greater than those observed with current treatments Fosamax (alendronate sodium) and Forteo (teriparatide). Release

> Agilis Biotherapeutics partnered with Intrexon ($XON) to develop DNA-based therapeutics for Friedreich's ataxia, a rare genetic neurodegenerative disease. Release

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Wright ends an up-and-down year on a high note. More | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: There's time to offer public comment on CMS's reduced payments for BRCA tests, and Myriad plans to speak up. Story | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: News from the holidays at FierceMedicalDevices: J&J nears the sale of its Ortho clinical Dx division, and more. Round-up | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@GalenMoore: The United States' global share of biomedical research spending fell from 51% in 2007 to 45% in 2012. Report | Follow @GalenMoore

> Stryker snags a traceable sponge outfit for $120M. More

> Carmat jumps on more good news for its artificial heart. Story

> CareFusion clears hurdles in $500M deal for a GE unit. Article

> Metabolon raises $15M after two recent tie-ups. News

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Top FiercePharma news this AM: Merck to cut 150 jobs from Saphris sales team. Sold drug to Forest last month. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: FDA says nada to Lemtrada; will Sanofi be willing to invest in additional trials? Story | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: ICYMI Tuesday: China suspends imports of Pfizer's antifungal Diflucan on a paperwork problem. Story | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> China plans to blacklist drugmakers for bribery; violators will be suspended. More

> Cue more drama in Teva's boardroom as its CEO announcement nears. Article

> Mulling a Zilmax relaunch, Merck faces reports of hoofless cattle and skeptical customers. Report

Pharma Manufacturing News

> J&J moves forward with its plan to make Doxil in part of the closed Ben Venue plant. More

> Hospira's India plant disappoints the FDA again. Story

> China takes aim at poor-quality drug production. More

> Baxter initiates a 4-country recall after particulate is found in solutions. News

> Transfer of GSK plant to Aspen Pharmacare will wait until midyear. Report

> $100M fund outlined for victims of NECC manufacturing problems. Item

Vaccines News

> CDC warns H1N1 virus is causing severe flu in young adults. More

> Genocea files IPO papers in a bid to raise $75M for vaccine development. Story

> Falsified AIDS vaccine data lands researcher an NIH funding ban. Article

> New Chinese quality standards raise the risk of a hep B vaccine shortage. News

> Argos to test investor appetite for cancer vaccines with a $60M IPO. Report

> FIT Biotech is set to start a Phase III HIV vaccine trial. Item