Astellas bets another $300M on Immunomic; J&J rolls into Phase III with Ebola vax;

@FierceBiotech: Roche looks to shake up the MS market with some promising Phase III data. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Westphal's Verastem slashes staff in the wake of a clinical trial flop. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

> Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) and partner Bavarian Nordic have begun a Phase III trial on their Ebola vaccine despite waning rates of infection in West Africa. More

> Astellas has extended its partnership with Immunomic Therapeutics, in-licensing more of the company's allergy vaccines in exchange for $300 million and a 10% royalty on future sales. News

> Alnylam Pharmaceuticals ($ALNY) started a Phase I extension study on its investigational RNAi therapy for hemophilia. Item

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: ICYMI: GE Ventures reaffirms commitment to VC with med tech startup program. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev

@VarunSaxena2: #AdvaMed15: CMS has 30 people to evaluate 30,000 diagnostic tests, but more FDA oversight is likely. More | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@EmilyWFierce: CalTech team creates one-time contraceptive vaccine for feral animals. More from FierceAnimalHealth | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Procyrion raises $10M to get minimally invasive, mini heart pump in the clinic. More

> Zoll completes rollout of the sole CPR device indicated for sudden cardiac arrest. News

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: A U.S. nonprofit says it has a better way to make generic drugs. FiercePharmaAsia story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Sanofi's Kansas City, MO plant back on the block as its August 2016 closing looms. FiercePharmaManufacturing report | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: Found this today on the futile hunt for things to write about. Five songs about #pharma. More #Friday | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Pfizer turns aside yet another case alleging Zoloft caused birth defects. Article

> Backlash rages on over Purdue's pediatric OxyContin approval. More