GSK plans new hires; NIH helps bankroll Raptor trial; Alkermes launches Phase III;

 @FierceBiotech: The top 10 biotech deal terminations of 2011. GSK/Targacept break-up takes top spot. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: Somaxon axing staffers, calling in the "strategic advisers." Anyone want to buy a sleep drug? Release | Follow@JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: Cornell U. won a competition involving Stanford and NYU to be NYC's pick to set up a science grad school in Gotham.Item | Follow @RyanMFierce

 @MaureenFierce: Using neti pots for sinus relief could cause amoebas to eat your brain. News | Follow @MaureenFierce

 @MarkHFierce: There's a way now to keep a cancer patient's healthy cells and tumor cells alive in the lab. Two ingredients help. Release | Follow @MarkHFierce

> GlaxoSmithKline says an R&D grant from Scottish Enterprise will allow the pharma company to hire 25 new workers. Story

> A division of the NIH has agreed to help bankroll a Phase IIb study of Raptor Pharma's delayed-release tablet formulation of cysteamine bitartrate, a potential treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Release

> Alkermes has launched a Phase III clinical trial of ALKS 9070 for the treatment of schizophrenia. Release

> The ALS Therapy Development Institute has forged a pact with Biogen Idec and UCB Pharma to investigate the use of an anti-CD40L antibody as a potential therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Release

> Agenus (formerly Antigenics) says it struck a "license, development and manufacturing technology transfer agreement" for its Oncophage vaccine. The therapy is only available in Russia. Release

> Pfizer is selling its last properties in Brooklyn, where it once maintained a manufacturing facility. Story

Pharma News

 @FiercePharma: Bausch + Lomb eyes pharma ops expansion. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

> EU brings Bayer's Xarelto into German market. News

> ISTA rebuffs Valeant bid. Story

> Pfizer and GSK boost pneumonia vaccine price cuts for developing world. Report

Biotech IT News

> Blood cancer group lights way to 28% faster trial starts. Item

> Elsevier scoops up scientific software outfit Ariadne. Story

> Harvard plays money ball with biotech--and baseball--data. Article

> EU program backs Linguamatics and ChemAxon's informatics work. News

Medical Device News

> Lawmakers seek recall info from Medtronic, four others. News

> TransEnterix closes $15M in 2nd tranche of Series B. Article

> CSA scores $20.5M in Series B. More

> FDA looks to improve the representation of women in device studies. Story

And Finally... A Massachusetts General Hospital research team says that increased expression of Sirt1, one of a family of enzymes called sirtuins, in the brain of a mouse model of HD protected against neurodegeneration. Report