@FierceBiotech: Aastrom lands a new CEO in a game of musical biotech chairs. News | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: I'd be willing to bet that Perlmutter has a couple of billion-dollar deals--like BioVex/Micromet--up his sleeves. Merck needs PhIII assets. | Follow @JohnCFierce
@RyanMFierce: I wonder whether Perlmutter will keep plugging away at CETP and other questionable Merck programs. | Follow @RyanMFierce
> EntreMed is raising $10.7 million from Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers China Fund II L.P. and IDG-Accel China Growth Fund III L.P. Report
> Merck KGaA's CFO has ruled out any big acquisitions this year. Story
> The U.K.'s PolyTherics has received an undisclosed milestone payment from Celtic Pharma Holdings after reporting "further progress on their hematology alliance to produce longer-acting versions of blood factor proteins." Release
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: On 2nd thought: U.K. cost agency backs Novartis asthma drug Xolair. New discount, new analyses, NICE says. More | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: Impax handed a 12-page Form 483 for a California plant by FDA. Plant must get OK before FDA will consider Impax NDA. Story | Follow @EricPFierce
> Israel should brace itself for Teva job cuts, analysts say. Report
> Sales reps, don your badges. We'll be watching you. More
> Glaxo chief loses half his incentive pay, cutting total to $5.86M. Story
@FierceMedDev: DBS helped some anorexia patients eat more. Item | Follow @FierceMedDev
@MarkHFierce: Fierce 15 company Nevro just closed $48M in Series C financing. Yet ANOTHER robust device funding round. Release | Follow @MarkHFierce
@DamianFierce: Illumina, SynapDx ally to develop autism diagnostic tools. Article | Follow @DamianFierce
> Renal denervation: Medtronic reaches for broader patient population. Article
> On second thought, Boston Scientific will unveil all Watchman data. News
> Stomach cancer breath Dx performs well in human tests. More
Pharma Manufacturing News
> Merck to close plant in Ireland. News
> Teva manufacturing cuts may have to involve home turf. More
> Ajinomoto buying biologics CMO Althea. Report
Vaccines News
> Sequester cuts set to hit vaccines. Report
> Study pins cancer vaccine failures on self-sabotaging adjuvant. Story
> GSK lawsuit shows risks of vaccine outsourcing. More
> Novartis encouraged by typhoid vaccine progress. Article
And Finally… Investigators say that even mild trauma can quickly kill brain tissue, raising the need for better therapies. Release