Heptares snags milestone from Cubist; SARS model could shed light on future spread of MERS coronavirus

 @FierceBiotech: Popular this weekend - Report: Pfizer backs off Onyx bid as price gets too rich. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce:  Report: Big Pharma mounts secret attack against data transparency rule - (some companies will never learn). Report | Follow @JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: Roche is still undecided about new chair. Art Levinson dismissed as "too radical." Reutersarticle | Follow @RyanMFierce

 @EmilyMFierce: New 3-D model of diabetes target could shape drug design. More | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Heptares Therapeutics says it has achieved its first milestone from a collaboration with Cubist ($CBST). Release

> Astex Pharmaceuticals says it has gathered data demonstrating "that early treatment with AT13387…in combination with targeted therapy delays the emergence of resistance. Release

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: Med tech VC investing remains sluggish, biotech surges. Report | Follow @FierceMedDev

 @MarkHFierce: Google is backing Dx company SynapDx in its new $15.4M funding round. Release (PDF) | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: Mela's melanoma-finding device was hailed as a major advance on FDA approval, but docs remain wary. Story | Follow @DamianFierce

> Saladax draws another $8M from GE to market cancer tests. News

> Medtronic's auto-adjust insulin pump on cusp of FDA approval. More

> ResMed wages patent battle with Chinese medical device maker. Item

Pharma News

 @FiercePharma: Chinese police pick up AstraZeneca sales rep for questioning. AZN says no reason to think it's part of bribery probe. Report | Follow @FiercePharma

 @CarlyHFierce: Reuters says Roche may have to turn to an outsider for its chairman hunt. News | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Chile's CFR wins shareholder OK for Adcock buyout financing. Story

> GlaxoSmithKline exec admits 'breaches,' promises price cuts in China. Article

CRO News

> ResearchDx expands to meet contract diagnostics demand. Report

> CROs large and small get serious about eClinical. More

> Aesica teams with QRxPharma for abuse-deterrence tech. Item

> CRO Solutions spins niche services into new biz. Story

> AstraZeneca picks Tufts for outsourcing-heavy neuro program. Article

> WuXi, PRA snag ex-Theorem CEO to head China JV. News

Biotech IT News

> J&J searching for European digital health entrepreneurs. Item

> Chinese CRO buys software to bridge gap to global clients. More

> Bioinformatics buy bolsters Life Technologies' diagnostics pact with Merck Serono. Story

> With pharma clientele, Big Data-mapping startup Ayasdi lands $30.6M financing. Article

And Finally… Researchers say that the SARS epidemic provided a valuable model for how MERS is likely to spread in the wake of two upcoming pilgrimages in the Middle East. Release