Esperion out to raise $150M; Acucela to hold shareholders meeting as founder fights for control;

@FierceBiotech: ICYMI yesterday: Struggling GlaxoSmithKline warns of 150 R&D job cuts in Philadelphia. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Pfizer joins a powerhouse syndicate backing $43M round for Nimbus. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Dear Twitter, it is my great honor to introduce FierceMadness, the 2015 Drug Name Tournament. Check it out | Follow @DamianFierce

> Shortly after Esperion ($ESPR) rolled out positive data on its cholesterol-lowering drug, the biotech announced plans to raise about $150 million through a stock sale. Release

> Seattle-based Acucela was ordered to hold a special shareholders meeting May 1 as founder Ryo Kubota pursued his quest to regain control of the biotech. Story

> Ignyta ($RXDX) is buying four in-development cancer drugs from Teva ($TEVA) in exchange for a 1.5 million shares, a 6% stake in the company. Under the deal, Teva is committing to buy another 1.5 million Ignyta shares at $10 each. More

> Y Combinator startup Ginkgo Bioworks raised a $9 million Series A to support its efforts to custom engineer organisms. News

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: ICYMI yesterday: Mayo Clinic finds a common MRI contrast agent is deposited in the brain. Report | Follow @FierceMedDev

@VarunSaxena2: ICYMI yesterday: Tablets, apps being deployed to improve customer service in the ICU. Article | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@EmilyWFierce: $MDT and the University of Minnesota are studying hibernating bears to gain insight into treating heart disease. More | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Olympus faces more legal pushback over endoscopes linked to UCLA superbug outbreak. Article

> Vivo Capital doubles down to close $750M U.S.-China healthcare fund. Story

> Boston Scientific implantable defibrillator gets FDA green light. Report

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Sinovac close to China marketing approval for hand, foot and mouth vaccine. More from FiercePharmaAsia | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Malaysia's CCM Duopharma Biotech ready to compete with the big boys, buying 6 plants from parent. More from FiercePharmaManufacturing | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: ICYMI yesterday: Imbruvica cocktail stalls CLL in new trial, raising hopes for bigger market. Article | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> England's Cancer Drugs Fund changes its tune, holds onto Novartis' Afinitor. Story

> Gilead to require proof of citizenship to buy Sovaldi in poor countries. Report

Biotech Research News

> Research group uses nanoparticles to deliver antibiotic. Item

> Fast-spreading CRISPR tech inspires new preclinical work on blood cancers. More

> Academic team assembles a 'homegrown' immunotoxin for blood cancers. Story

> Blood pressure drug looks promising in preventing myelin loss in MS. Article

> Rockefeller U team touts a potential psoriasis 'cure' from Boehringer. Report

Diagnostics News

> Metabolon rides on last year's success with $5M in extended financing. Story

> Illumina hits U.K. company with prenatal test patent suit. Article

> Myriad extends collaboration with BioMarin for cancer companion Dx. Item

> Invitae to focus on adding genetic tests, securing reimbursement in 2015. Report

> 23andMe launches new therapeutics group with biotech vet taking the reins. More

Pharma Marketing News

> Worried about quality at home, Chinese consumers stock up on 'Made in Japan' drugs. Item

> Judge tosses Xolair kickback suit against Novartis, Genentech. Report

> Pernix looks for a sales trifecta from 100 new Zohydro reps. Story

> Mayo docs join the revolt against rising cancer drug prices. News

> It had to happen: Apple Watch gets a drug-adherence app. More