EU approves Sanofi diabetes drug; Novian and NanoViricides report new venture rounds; Academics cite success in Alzheimer's animal study;

 @FierceBiotech: Popular this weekend: Merck R&D calls for a time-out on osteo blockbuster hopeful. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Interesting to see Medicines Co. pay Alnylam $25M upfront for early-stage PCSK9 program. More | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: Gilead says SVR 67% in oral combo is same as SVR on interferon group in Ph3 FISSION study in hep C types 2&3, meets primary endpoint. Release | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Sanofi ($SNY) says that the EU has approved its diabetes drug Lyxumia. Report

> Chicago-based Novian Health has raised $11 million in a Series A designed to advance its work on a laser treatment for breast cancer. Release

> NanoViricides says it has raised $6 million from unnamed investors backing their first clinical study of their experimental flu drug. Release

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: U.S. government finally gets payment rule published. News | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb create 'Diabetes Inc.,' to give complete attention to diabetes treatment sales. More | Follow @EricPFierce

@AlisonBFierce: A study of the first new TB vaccine in 90 years showed it offered no added benefit to the current vaccine. News | Follow @AlisonBFierce

> Exports to U.S. to power Indian drugmaker growth. Item

> Feds grab Shire's attention on Adderall marketing. Report

> Loss of Actos weighs heavily on Takeda. News

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: Swiss team: Nanoscale tissue check boosts breast cancer Dx. More | Follow @FierceMedDev

 @MarkHFierce: GE and the N.F.L. will jointly develop new imaging tech to spot concussions. News| Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: Icon is spending $52M on Cross Country Healthcare's clinical trials business. Report | Follow @DamianFierce

> AdvaMed targets Puerto Rico device tax hike as unfair burden. News

> Covidien ticks toward pharma spinoff. Article

> Yogurt, pacemakers compel conflict-of-interest issues in Florida. Item

CRO News

> Parexel brightens 2013 outlook after strong quarter. Story

> BioClinica eyed for $123M buyout, eventual merger. News

> Indian clinical trials: Private group steps in to increase transparency. More

> Patheon brings bioavailability service to EU with plant expansion. Report

Biotech IT News

> Cypher Genomics chief speaks out from DNA data-crunching crowd. Story

> Clinical trials software player agrees to $123M buyout. News

> Boehringer unleashes iPhone app amid COPD blitz. Report

> Biopharma targets bioinformatics aces in R&D overhaul. Article

And Finally… Academic investigators in the U.K. say that an experimental therapy erased a third of the toxic plaque often associated with Alzheimer's disease in an animal study. Story