@FierceBiotech: Trending on FierceBiotechResearch.com: Stem cell transplant heals mouse brains with neurological deficits. More | Follow @FierceBiotech
@RyanMFierce: Israel's Treato, analyzing social for pharma, found $14.5M from OrbiMed, New Leaf and Reed Elsevier. Release | Follow @RyanMFierce
> AcelRx found that the higher dose of an experimental pain drug met the main goal of a Phase II trial in patients who have had their bunions surgically removed. Yet shares dipped in early-morning trading, Reuters reported. Article
> Tranzyme Pharma ($TZYM) and Ocera Therapeutics have struck a merger agreement, with the merged entity to be called Ocera Therapeutics and Ocera's investors stepping up with a $20 million PIPE financing for the company. Expect the company to be listed on the Nasdaq. Release
> Agilent Technologies ($A) has made a $21 million "strategic investment" in synthetic biology startup Gen9, which makes gene fragments for researchers. Release
> A Helvea pharma analyst talks on Bloomberg TV about blockbusters in the pipeline at Swiss drug giant Novartis ($NVS). Video
@FierceMedDev: Edwards slashes projections despite Q1 growth. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev
@MarkHFierce: Some breaking news about a French device maker at BIO in Chicago. Article | Follow @MarkHFierce
@DamianFierce: GE's diagnostics imaging is in high demand, and now the company's teaming up with Eisai on Alzheimer's. More | Follow @DamianFierce
> BIO: French device maker Eveon raising $9.1M for EU, U.S. expansion. Item
> Thermo soars on diagnostics as Life Tech deal pends. More
> GE Healthcare's Pascale Witz seeks better climate for Dx industry growth. Article
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: More on GSK's first-quarter numbers to come. For now, sales down 2% to £6.5 bn. Release | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: FDA thinks a computer system can help it identify which plants are at most risk & should top list for inspections. More | Follow @EricPFierce
> Busy Novartis announces layoffs, taps new CFO, and slashes chairman's pay. More
> Feds nail key player in counterfeit Avastin probe. Story
> Feds sue 'repeat offender' Novartis in Myfortic kickback scheme. Article
Drug Delivery News
@MichaelGFierce: Researchers reverse Parkinson's damage with nasal gene delivery. Article | Follow @MichaelGFierce
> New delivery combo for proven breast cancer drug boosts performance. More
> Bacteria deliver radioactive drugs to treat pancreatic cancer. Story
> AstraZeneca, Bind team up for cancer drug delivery. Item
> Civitas' inhaled Parkinson's drug promises novel delivery with positive PhII results. Article
> Cornell nanosized 'dots' for diagnostics may now deliver drugs. More
And Finally… Massachusetts, where the biotech industry is booming, showed no signs of letting up in seeking further growth at the BIO International Convention. Boston Globe article
Editor's Note: The original version of this post misreported the amount of the PIPE financing Ocera's investors are contributing to the agreement with Tranzyme. We regret the error.