Imperial grabs $78M to back biotech investments; Shire gets back to buyout business;

@FierceBiotech: Biopharma's 10 highest-paid heads of R&D. Feature | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: BRIEF: Celgene backing Soon-Shiong's cancer biotech IPO, now dubbed NantKwest. Item | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: $SHPG's Ornskov has A+ dramaturgy. Was it "Can't Get You Outta My Head," @jonathanrockoffMore | Follow @DamianFierce

> Imperial Innovations has picked up a £50 million loan ($78 million) from the European Investment Bank to turn into new biotech investments in the U.K. As of the end of January Imperial says its portfolio is worth £262 million, with medtech and therapeutics representing 79.2% of that value. Release

> Since watching AbbVie's ($ABBV) $54 billion buyout offer dissolve last year, Shire ($SHPG) has reaffirmed its identity under CEO Flemming Ornskov, returning to its acquisitive ways while slimming down to focus on rare disease R&D. Story

> Ardelyx ($ARDX), on the rebound after a costly clinical setback, is moving forward without ex-partner AstraZeneca ($AZN) and with plans to get three drugs into Phase III by the end of next year. News

> The FDA wants more information on Zogenix's ($ZGNX) epilepsy treatment ZX008, forcing the company to delay its planned Phase III trial by three months. Item

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: ICYMI: Xagenic reels in $15M for point-of-care testing system. FierceDiagnostics story | Follow @FierceMedDev\

@VarunSaxena2: ICYMI yesterday: India moving closer to implementing price controls on medical devices. Article | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@EmilyWFierce: ICYMI from FiercePharma: Otsuka, Lundbeck bag blockbuster FDA approval for long-acting antipsychotic Rexulti. Story | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Valeant to buy contact lens maker Unilens for $28M. Story

> Gentag, Mayo Clinic and others form JV to develop cheap, painless smartphone-based diabetes tech. Article

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: FDA cracks down on Vegas firm selling unapproved kidney drug for dogs and cats. FierceAnimalHealth story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Emcure plant in Hinjwadi added to growing list of Indian facilities banned by FDA. More | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: UPDATED with quote from $HZNP CEO Walbert: Depomed swallows poison pill to keep hostile Horizon at bay. Story | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Sen. Sanders joins Maryland rep for game of pricing hardball with Amphastar. More

> J&J's pharma biz takes Q2 hit on hep C slippage, but new meds keep delivering. Story

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Novartis' Sandoz puts India plant on chopping block. News

> Takeda recalls thousands of Contrave bottles even as it fights over canceled trial. Report

> WuXi selling chunk of SynTheAll to raise $80M for plant expansion. Story

> Catalent says it has resolved issues FDA noted at North Carolina site. Item

> Fresenius Kabi, Calea fined $844,600 for lapses tied to patient death. Article

Pharma Asia News

> Almac's launch of Singapore APAC HQ also eyes regional growth of small biotechs. Article

> Fujifilm Chief Komori discusses R&D, earnings outlook, but not duodenoscopes. Story

> China's aim to halt malaria gets a thumbs up from WHO as global effort grows. Report

> Private placement of 6% in WuXi's SynTheAll unit raises $80M to fund manufacturing boost. More

Drug Delivery News

> Researcher says more work needed on use of nanocarriers in fight against stroke, heart disease. Report

> Eczema cream posts strong results in PhIII trial. Item

> Parisian MIT spinoff pulls in €2M to fund CRISPR delivery work. News

> Valeant to commercialize and manufacture EyeGate's eye drug delivery device. Story

> Neos files for $60M IPO with easy-to-swallow tablets for ADHD. Article