Analysts suggest new cancer combo role for Merck's failed HIV drug vicriviroc; Synta sinks on 'positive' cancer data; Karyopharm sets IPO terms;

@FierceBiotech: CytomX 'probody' kills pancreatic cancer cells, leaves healthy tissue intact. Story from FierceBiotech Research | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: UPDATED: FDA overrides Zohydro panel, approves pure hydrocodone pain med. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: ICYMI: Aerie prices $67M IPO and becomes 40th biotech to go public this year. Story | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: GMOs Versus Overuse Of Antibiotics: Which Is The Greater Evil? More from Forbes | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Citi analysts say that Merck ($MRK) is preparing to take its failed CCR5 HIV drug vicriviroc--which is designed to block the AIDS virus from penetrating cells--into the clinic as a combo drug with its closely-watched PD-1 immunotherapy MK-3475. And Pfizer ($PFE) and Bristol-Myers Squibb ($BMY) could pursue the same combination strategy. Speculation about a combination has been growing following promising animal studies for vicriviroc. The therapy was abandoned in 2010 after it failed two Phase III studies. Report

> Lexington, MA-based Synta Pharmaceuticals ($SNTA) saw its share price plunge 22% Monday morning after it issued a "positive" update on its one-year results for the late stage lung cancer drug ganetespib. Some analysts found the data didn't measure up to competing therapies in the pipeline. Release

> Karyopharm has laid out its terms for an IPO. The biotech plans to sell 5.7 million shares at $14 to $16 each, raising up to $91 million. Story

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Abbott's MitraClip heart valve device gains FDA's long-awaited blessing. ICYMI Friday | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: GE healthcare is aiming for a 2014 launch for its new Alzheimer's imaging agent. More from FierceDiagnostics | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: A blog post from the FDA late last week highlighted the agency's efforts to regulate nanotechnology. Blog | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> Boston Scientific bags CE mark for heart valve as market crowds. News

> Bill would clarify FDA oversight over mobile medical apps. Story

> Edwards joins Middle Peak financing to gain stake in mitral device race. More

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Still trending on our website (in a big way): Teva profile as No. 1 on our Top 10 Generics Makers list. Profile | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: What drugs are up for grabs by generic makers next year? Here's the FiercePharma list of 2014 patent losses. Report | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: Biogen's Tecfidera drives rosy Q3 results, higher forecast. More | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Suffering Dendreon puts itself on the block, Bloomberg says. Report

> Teva denies CEO weighing an exit over board's meddling. Story

> With Opsumit approved, analysts say Actelion primed for takeover. Article

CRO News

> InVentiv opens U.K. hub as EU demand climbs. More

> Dendreon picks CMO PharmaCell to make Provenge in Europe. Item

> Novum reaches into N. Dakota for clinical trials. Article

> SRI sets sights on CRO growth with Virginia expansion. Story

> Icon boosts outlook after 19% sales jump. Report

> CRO Atheris hooks up with Debiopharm for cancer R&D. More

Biotech IT News

> Medidata eyes Novartis' business after inking Alcon deal. More

> Broad Institute to offer sequencing services after receiving CLIA nod. Item

> VCs tap Amgen-acquired genomics database to power startup. Report

> Oxford Nanopore readying for user tests of handheld sequencing device. Story

> Amazon, Baylor and DNAnexus team up for huge sequencing project. Article