Exelixis launches PhII cabo study; Aptuit names new CEO

@FierceBiotech: PharmAthene scraps Theraclone merger after feds nix funding. More | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Forest Labs takes aim at R&D in $500M cost-cutting blitz. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Aptuit poached a former $ICLR VP to serve as next CEO. Story | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: Novartis announced on Thanksgiving that its scientists have discovered a new malaria target. Release | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> South San Francisco-based Exelixis ($EXEL) launched a Phase II clinical trial comparing cabozantinib plus abiraterone and prednisone versus abiraterone/prednisone in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer who have bone metastases and have not been previously treated with chemotherapy. The primary endpoint is radiographic progression-free survival. Release

> Greenwich, CT-based Aptuit has named Jonathan Goldman, a veteran of ICON ($ICLR), as the new CEO. Story

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Report: Insurers could gain up to $1B in J&J hip settlement deal. Item | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: LabCorp has become the latest to roll out new BRCA tests - wondering when Myriad will sue them, too. Release | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: ICYMI: Study: Natural nanomaterials could support biodegradable drug delivery. Story | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@GalenMoore: Infectious-disease biotech Visterra has raised $8.1M and licensed dengue-fever IP from its co-founder's lab at MIT. More | Follow @GalenMoore

> HeartWare bags CircuLite for up to $350M with eye on bigger market share. Article

> University of Toronto molecular Dx spinout pulls in $18.8M Series B. Report

> NEJM study ties Thoratec's HeartMate pump to blood clots. More

> Ardian vet, early Google employee post $3.8M for stealthy med tech startup. Story

> Abbott recalls glucose test strips over risk with older-model meters. Piece

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Irish plant shutdown puts another Merck site on the block. Story from FiercePharmaManufacturing | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Analysts predicted Forest would do something to cut costs. Here it is. Release | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: This disease database digitization project is named for Tycho Brahe, Prague's imperial astronomer in the late 1500s. Story | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> KKR bets $200M on India's Gland Pharma. News

> Glaxo CEO Witty visits China in wake of bribery charges. Story

> Japan's Takeda looks to outsider as it reaches for international status. More

Biotech IT News

> Computational biology startup joins Merck KGaA's incubator. More

> Digitization work turns 125 years of disease reports into Big Data goldmine. News

> Pfizer: 'Bring your own device' is coming to clinical trials. Story

> Academics dig into EMRs to discover genetic causes of disease. Article

> Report suggests biopharma wise to outsource cybersecurity. Piece

> Sony files patent for wearable computing 'SmartWig'. Item

CRO News

> Analyst: Pharma R&D cuts won't hamper big CROs. Story

> Almac banks $9M in diagnostics deal with Genomic Health. More

> CRO SillaJen eyes $150M deal for ex-sponsor. News

> Evoke picks SynteractHCR to helm PhIII for diabetes drug. Piece

> Aptuit snags ex-Icon exec to serve as CEO. Article

> Parexel: Strategic partnerships are the future. Item