Gene therapy guards children against rare brain disease; GSK collaborates on new vaccines;

Conversations on Twitter :

A look at alternative biotech business models: has anyone had success via out-licensing platform and forgoing an internal pipeline?
AZ starts another Phase II study in NSCLC and sparks an oncology pipeline discussion.

 @FierceBiotech: Nuron Biotech bags $80M deal to back vaccines portfolio, PhIII multiple sclerosis drug work. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Tredaptive failure likely to leave a mark at Merck, which spends more than $8B a year on R&D. This could trigger a reorg. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: Biogen is teaming up on ALS research w/experts @ Yale Harvard & Columbia, committing $10M+, as its ALS rx is in P3. Release | Follow @RyanMFierce

> A group of children suffering from a rare and lethal genetic brain disorder have survived 7 to 10 years after being treated with a gene therapy that uses a benign virus to deliver its payload, Bloomberg reports. Investigators inserted the treatment after drilling holes in their skulls. Story

> GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) has struck a deal to collaborate with GlycoVaxin AGon antibacterial conjugate vaccines. Story

> Sygnis Pharma says it will end an R&D project and cut 10 workers in Germany. Story

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Judge thwarts Endo's effort to block non-tamper-resistant copies of Opana ER. FDA still might, tho. More | Follow @FiercePharma

> Sanofi settles Hyalgan kickback probe for $109M. Report

> CFO: No stock buybacks for Roche. Let's make a $7B deal instead. News

> Amgen whistleblower went undercover for the feds. Story

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: DioGenix Series B funds crucial trial for MS Dx. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: A Novartis subsidiary is licensing Trovagene's find that a certain protein, found in urine, can indicate leukemia. News | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: Privately held CardiacAssist is targeting the heart pump market after getting FDA OK for a pivotal trial. More | Follow @DamianFierce

> Covidien's catheter posts sterling 5-year results. Report

> Analyst report: Med Tech M&A and restructuring to surge in 2013. Article

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Hot for fish oil, BASF expands plant, pursues Pronova. News

> India API makers complain about cheap Chinese imports. Story

Vaccines News

 @AlisonBFierce: India is cruising along in the vaccines market. A WHO clearance will hoist the country's vaccine exports. More | Follow @AlisonBFierce

> U.N. contemplates ban on vaccine preservative. News

> FDA approves GSK's quadrivalent flu vaccine. Story

> Georgia State scientists investigate universal flu vaccine. More