Bluebird bio names Dixon, Schenkein to the board; Supernus issues $90M in notes; Amgen reviews late-stage R&D plan;

@FierceBiotech: NeuroPhage banks $6.4M for Alzheimer's drug development effort. Item | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: AbbVie gains inside "breakthrough" track at FDA for hot hep C combo. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: NeuroPhage found $6.4m for work on lead Alzheimer's candidate. Corporates Shire and Merieux invested. Release | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Cambridge, MA-based bluebird bio named Wendy Dixon, Ph.D., and David Schenkein, M.D., to the company's board of directors. Release

> Supernus Pharmaceuticals ($SUPN) issued $90 million worth of convertible notes in a private offering. Much of the money is intended for commercialization efforts. Release

> The Los Angeles Times takes a look at Amgen's ($AMGN) late-stage R&D plan as pressure builds to gain new approvals. Story

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: J&J issue in South Korea reminiscent of OTC problems here: Ordered to halt production of recalled Children's Tylenol: More | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Medicare spending growth so slow that Independent Payment Board won't be in play for 2015 drug pricing. Item | Follow @EricPFierce

> Covidien predicts up to 11% sales growth at soon-to-be independent Mallinckrodt unit. Report

> Merck wins FDA nod for new Zetia-Lipitor combo, despite lack of outcomes benefit. Story

> Pfizer combats online fakes with direct-to-patient Viagra sales. Article

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: India draws industry ire with stent reimbursement reduction. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: Some VC love has gone to a Spanish diagnostics start-up, to the tune of $22.1 million. Release | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: Parexel is spending $24M to bolster its consulting services and predicting a strong 2013. Story | Follow @DamianFierce

> Florida sales tax exemption aids medical device manufacturing base. Item

> Medtronic wins FDA nods for next-gen cardiac devices. News

> Nose neurons offer scent of schizophrenia Dx possibility. DxExtra

CRO News

> Welsh CRO Simbec goes independent with new investment. Item

> CRO Novotech picks up PE investment to expand in Asia. News

> TFS buys Beardsworth to expand oncology trial work. Article

> Covance dials up projections after strong Q1. More

Biotech IT News

> Doc launches user-friendly website for clinical trials searches. More

> Martin Leach's 16-year interview for the job of Big Data boss at Biogen Idec. Editor's corner

> IMS Health acquires social media analytics startup Semantelli. Report

> Comprehend, GNS reach milestones with software for drug researchers. Article

> Sanofi teams with Big Data outfit to research drugs for diabetes and cancer. Story

And Finally… A European team of investigators say they've come up with a new treatment for a common sign of aging: gray hair. Release