GW Pharma raises $88M for orphan disease drug; Flexion pitches $86M IPO; Adimab lines up antibody deals with 3 biotechs;

@FierceBiotech: Intercept halts FLINT trial early after meeting endpoint in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Release | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Oh, man. Intercept up to $255 - or +250%. Market cap now just under $5B. | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Zymeworks pockets $15M, woos Eli Lilly with its double-barreled antibodies. Story | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: ICYMI: Embryonic-like stem cells created from frozen tissue of Alzheimer's patients. Story from FierceBiotech Research | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> The UK's GW Pharma has raised $88 million to back its program for orphan childhood epilepsy diseases. "We believe that Epidiolex has the potential to meet significant unmet needs in the treatment of orphan childhood epilepsy syndromes such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome," the company said in a statement. Story

> Flexion Therapeutics is throwing its hat in the crowded IPO ring, filing for an initial offering designed to garner about $86 million for the biotech. Founded by a couple of veterans from Eli Lilly's ($LLY) Chorus group, the company has been advancing a lead therapy for osteoarthritis pain. Now the developer is planning a confirmatory Phase IIb study of the drug ahead of a late-stage program. The biotech has two other drugs in the clinic as well. The company plans to list under the "FLXN" symbol. S-1

> Lebanon, NH-based Adimab is primarily known for its antibody development deals with Big Pharma. But today the company announced three new deals with some small biotechs. It will work with Jounce, Five Prime and Alector. "Adimab is focused on partnering with the best drug developers in the world, whether they are major pharmaceutical companies or smaller biotech companies," said Tillman Gerngross, the cofounder and CEO of Adimab. Release

> Adamas Pharmaceuticals has earned a $40 million milestone from Forest Labs. Release

> CytomX and ImmunoGen ($IMGN) will collaborate on drug conjugates for cancer. Release

> Sunesis Pharmaceuticals says it has expanded its hematology franchise through separate global licensing agreements for two preclinical kinase inhibitor programs with Biogen Idec ($BIIB) and Millennium. Release

> San Diego-based Avelas Biosciences closed on a $6.85 million tranche of a Series B financing round--bringing the total to $14 million. The financing was led by founding investor, Avalon Ventures, joined by new investors Torrey Pines Investment, WuXi AppTec, and an additional unnamed investor. Release

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Avelas Biosciences closes $6.85M Series B for real-time cancer visualization tech. Release | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MichaelGFierce: Hot on FierceDrugDelivery this week: How a single nanoparticle delivers two drugs separately to kill cancer cells. Story | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@EmilyWFierce: FiercePharma has gone mobile! Check out the new app here. | Follow @EmilyWFierce

@MarkHFierce: Sorin knows: a local device development partner in China is good way to boost its market presence there. Story | Follow @MarkHFierce

> Medtronic's flunked trial throws its hypertension program into doubt. Story

> Facing a Dx sales slump, Quest taps Illumina, Life Tech and UCSF for R&D. More

> Covidien, NEA and Lightstone are backing a stealthy Irish med tech startup. News

> Lombard plots a U.S. IPO as aortic aneurysm device takes off. Article

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and Zogenix to End Co-Promotion Agreement. Release | Follow @FiercePharma

@TracyStaton: Most popular special report FiercePharma today: Top 10 Drug Patent Losses of 2014. Report | Follow @TracyStaton

@EricPFierce: Let us satisfy your app..etite for FiercePharma news. iOS folks here; Android here. | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: ICYMI yesterday: J&J's Imbruvica bests GSK's Arzerra in CLL trial, raising hopes for off-label sales. Story | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> With CEO pick, Teva bets turnaround savvy will trump pharma know-how. Story

> Wanna trade? Novartis and Merck are reportedly negotiating a $5B unit swap. More

> FDA nod for melanoma combo cranks up GlaxoSmithKline's cancer franchise. News

Pharma Manufacturing News

> McKesson's new offer appeases hedge fund on Celesio buyout. Story

> FDA names Sklamberg to oversee global regulatory issues. Item

> Roche's Genentech tells the FDA to expect a brief Tamiflu shortage. Article

> Patheon's deal for DSM would transform it into the 2nd largest CMO in the world. News

> Amgen facility has its 2nd explosion in 9 months. More

> Rumored Novartis, Merck asset swap has interesting manufacturing implications. Report

Vaccines News

> Astellas inks deal to create a portfolio of vaccine-focused biotechs. Story

> H1N1 deaths drive a surge in demand for flu vaccine. Report

> China gives hep B vaccine a clean bill of health but suspicions remain. News

> Study finds giving Prevnar and flu vaccine together raises risk of fever. More

> Students in California are still waiting for Novartis' Bexsero to arrive. Article

> Protein Sciences calls on Connecticut to buy its flu vaccine. Item