Celsion releases upbeat data for liver cancer drug; Curetis raises $16 million in Series B;

@FierceBiotech: E&Y: Biotech budget hawks rule the roost in year of mixed performance. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech

@RyanMFierce: RBC analyst Michael Ye says BMS' PhII data for all-oral reg isn't much of a threat to Gilead. So, again, Gilead is still the frontrunner. | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Convergence Pharmaceuticals has started a Phase II proof of concept study with its small molecule CNV2197944 for pain associated with post-herpetic neuralgia. Release

> Molecular diagnostics company Curetis AG closed a Series B financing round totaling €12.5 million ($16.24 million). Release

> Celsion ($CLSN) has released upbeat data from its HEAT study that its drug ThermoDox may be viable as a liver cancer drug. Release

> Isis Pharmaceuticals ($ISIS) has begun a Phase II study of its drug ISIS-SMNRxin infants with spinal muscular atrophy. Release

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: CareFusion endures another Class I pump recall. News | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: Just attended our FierceBiotech breakfast and covered an R&D panel. Great ideas, but will they boost success rates? | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: Roche Diagnostics is axing 170 jobs as its dissolves Applied Science biz. News | Follow @DamianFierce

> Cervel Neurotech snags $14.1M for anti-depression device. More

> Patent suit loss tanks Illumina's strong sales quarter. Story

> Report: Electrophysiology device sales grow fastest in Asia. Item

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Novartis forges ahead with expansion at North Carolina vaccines campus, with $60M tech building. Report | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: $65 million DSM cell culture plant in Brisbane part of Australia's $345 million Translational Research Institute. Story | Follow @EricPFierce

> Thanks to Lexapro generics, Forest swings to loss on 32% drop in yearly sales. More

> Biogen MS pill soars onstage with impressive first-week script numbers. Article

> Drugmakers, get ready for bigger, faster dealmaking, Moody's says. Story

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Novartis expanding U.S. vaccine complex. Item

> U.S. lawmakers take another shot at mandating drug tracking system. More

> Fujifilm expands former Merck biologics plant in U.K. News

> DSM sets June launch for Australian biologics plant. Article

Biotech Research News

 @EmilyMFierce: Intel, Oregon Health & Science University partner on genetic profiling project. More | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Antibody genes linked to ethnicity. Item

> Autistic behavior has genetic basis in mice. Article

> Radioactive bacteria treatment stops metastasis in mice. More

> Columbia researchers identify hundreds of potential metabolic cancer targets. Story