@FierceBiotech: From FierceVaccines.com: India's vaccine prices soar as private companies gain ground. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Sanofi's case for R&D turnaround includes a few setbacks for cancer, MS - coming up at JPM13 pipeline review. News | Follow @JohnCFierce
@RyanMFierce: Third Rock selling a preclinical stage portfolio company is interesting. It's TRV's 2nd exit, and they're gonna need wins to raise more $$. | Follow @RyanMFierce
> BioMarin ($BMRN) has snapped up Zacharon Pharmaceuticals with a $10 million upfront payment and the promise of unspecified milestones for progress on its experimental therapy for Tay Sachs disease and related conditions. Zacharon was founded about 9 years ago with cash from Avalon Ventures and others. Report
> Bill Gates has stepped up with two other high-profile investors to add $13.5 million to Foundation Medicine's big B round. The new cash brings the latest series to a whopping $56 million as the Cambridge, MA-based Foundation--a Fierce 15 company--continues to commercialize new technology on cancer genomics. "Advances in understanding the human genome are having a dramatic impact on almost every area of medicine," said Gates. "Foundation Medicine's approach in harnessing the power of genomic data to improve care for cancer patients could represent an extremely important step forward in improving routine cancer care. I'm happy to be supporting this quite promising approach." Release (pdf)
> Daiichi Sankyo has struck a $50 million deal to collaborate with Amplimmune on development of AMP-110, a potential immune modulation therapy for autoimmune diseases. Daiichi Sankyo will pay for development through Phase II, agreeing to unspecified milestones while taking an option to buy the therapy if it proves promising. Release
> Citing sources, Bloomberg reports that Bristol-Myers Squibb ($BMY) is looking to sell off its experimental migraine drug BMS-927711, as it no longer fits into its R&D strategy. Story
> Struggling BioCryst ($BCRX) has set up a new stock incentive program for its remaining staffers, including CEO Jon Stonehouse. Story
> Intarcia chief Kurt Graves says that the company is in talks to outlicense its drug-formulation tech to other companies. Intarcia has been developing a once-a-year implant to deliver a diabetes therapy. Story
> Germany's Priaxon has struck a deal to collaborate with GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) on small-molecule modulators of protein-protein interactions. Release
> Coronado Biosciences has named J&J ($JNJ) vet Harlan F. Weisman as its new CEO. Release (pdf)
@FierceMedDev: JPM: T2 readies pivotal trial for Candida assay. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev
@MarkHFierce: A new NC startup wants to grow replacement corneas from donor cells and scaffolding. Story | Follow @MarkHFierce
@DamianFierce: Fierce 15'er CardioKinetix is kicking off a pivotal trial for its heart-failure tech. Article | Follow @DamianFierce
> JPM: For med tech startups, fundraising hinges on establishing value. Report
> JPM: Medtronic's Ishrak promises more M&A, globalization. News
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: Allergan eager to offload its obesity business (Lap-Band, etc) this quarter. PrivateEquity in on the hunt, CEO says. More | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: Warburg Pincus' $195 million deal for JHP says something about the market for sterile injectable drugs. Story | Follow @EricPFierce
@AlisonBFierce: Rates of HPV-related cancers remain stubbornly high in the United States. More | Follow @AlisonBFierce
> Beeping bottle caps, videos attack drug adherence. Report
> Novartis CEO shopping for bolt-on deals at $4B, tops. News
Pharma Manufacturing News
> Novartis finds blister packs sell more drugs. Story
> Lonza doubling ADC capacity at Visp. Report
> Malaysia's location, domestic market draw Ranbaxy, Cipla, others. Article
> Exela investing in North Carolina plant. News
Biotech Research News
> Mouse results unlock metformin's secrets. Story
> Addex preclinical drug slows inherited neuropathy. News
> Using gene therapy to fix a scarred heart. Report
> Cell transplant gives blind mice their sight back. Item
And Finally… Investigators say that a number of parasitic worms they've been studying release an anti-inflammatory molecule that can help treat diseases associated with obesity. Story