AstraZeneca taps Isis for antisense R&D; Dendreon's struggles loom large in cancer vax R&D;

@FierceBiotech: AstraZeneca trumpets a preclinical long shot in bid to burnish Brilinta's prospects. More | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Oxigene's positive PhII ovarian cancer data faces analyst's skepticism. More | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Top-notch brand synergy here. Nothing says "trustworthy" like a pawnbroker. Picture | Follow @DamianFierce

> AstraZeneca ($AZN) has expanded its alliance with Isis Pharmaceuticals ($ISIS), teaming up to develop new delivery methods for oligonucleotide therapies. The two have been working together since 2012 on antisense therapies for cancer and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. More

> Merck ($MRK) has signed a deal to collaborate with Belgium's Euroscreen on some undisclosed drug targets, an agreement that puts the latter company in line for more than €100 million ($125 million) in milestone payments. News

> Dendreon's ($DNDN) slow march to oblivion has cast a pall over the field of cancer vaccine development. Story

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Medtronic borrows $16B to cover rising costs of Covidien deal. More | Follow @FierceMedDev

@VarunSaxena2: Xerox invests in HealthSpot, a telemedicine provider. More | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@EmilyWFierce: First pharma swag submission of the day: Flonase wristwatch. Feel free to send pics to [email protected]Picture | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Congressional Republicans move full speed ahead to nix medical device tax. Story

> Glooko merges tech data to avoid activity-triggered hypoglycemic events. Article

> Consultant says Sunshine Act leads to implicit coordination of payments to docs. Article

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Merck JV signs on Bangladeshi firms to speed low-cost cholera candidate. More | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Cadila gets slapped with #FDA warning for not following up on complaints about stinking APIs. Story | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: At long last, Sanofi launches low-cost pentavalent in India. More | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> FDA to Mallinckrodt: Generic Concerta doesn't measure up to J&J's brand. News

> U.K. unveils top cancer brands facing yea-or-nay for CDF funding. Article

> Merck KGaA bucks up on Rebif sales, emerging markets growth. Story

Vaccines News

> Report: Sanofi has billion-dollar dengue opportunity in India. Item

> U.K. pols press PM Cameron on Bexsero coverage delay. Story

> Study: Universal E. coli vaccine appears possible thanks to limited number of strains. Report

> At long last, Sanofi launches low-cost pentavalent in India. More

> Merck JV signs on Bangladeshi firms to speed low-cost cholera candidate. Story

> Dendreon bankruptcy weighs on cancer vaccine field. Article

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Consort's Aesica buyout sets it up to jointly develop drugs and delivery devices. Story

> Sun's deal to buy Ranbaxy faces delays. Article

> Spain's Exeltis gets two plants in Turkey with deal for Embil. More

> Neopharma to build plant in Saudi Arabia. Story

> Police probe wholesalers for selling subsidized drugs outside of Spain. Article