@FierceBiotech: AstraZeneca offers $727M package to partner with Inovio on immuno-oncology. News | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Sanofi takes another stab at cancer with Evotec, Apeiron checkpoint partnership. Article | Follow @JohnCFierce
@DamianFierce: Like most people, I'm waiting for Thug_BioAnalyst to weigh in before I form an opinion on anything this morning. | Follow @DamianFierce
> Intrexon has acquired Oxford University spinout Oxitech for $160 million in cash and stock. Oxitech uses genetic engineering tech to make crop-damaging or disease-spreading insects like mosquitoes sterile. "Oxitec's technology demonstrates that engineered biology can solve some of mankind's most difficult problems--many that have eluded solutions for a very long time--while exercising tremendous respect for the environment," says Intrexon CEO Randal Kirk, a big believer in the power of synthetic biology. "In particular, to be able to induce a population decline in a major disease vector and know your intervention does not propagate in the environment is an historic achievement." Release
> Novavax ($NVAX) CEO Stanley Erck isn't the least bit shy in talking up the commercial prospects for the company's mid-stage RSV vaccine. He tells Reuters the PhII vaccine could be "the largest selling vaccine in the history of vaccines in terms of revenue." Story
Medical Device News
@FierceMedDev: UPDATED with interview of CEO: TAVR maker JenaValve receives $26.5M to fund U.S. studies. Report | Follow @FierceMedDev
@VarunSaxena2: Crowdsourcing challenge winner looking to commercialize NIH tech to diagnose brain cancer. Article | Follow @VarunSaxena2
@EmilyWFierce: Congress urges feds to probe FDA over morcellator safety concerns. More | Follow @EmilyWFierce
> Bill introduced to fix FDA's combination product regs; attorneys say it doesn't go far enough. Story
> Sisu to put emergency blood recycling device through trials later this year. Article
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: Novartis goes '80s with Cyndi Lauper-led psoriasis campaign. FiercePharmaMarketing story | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: ICYMI last week: Aprecia is building $25M plant where it will do 3D printing of drugs. Article | Follow @EricPFierce
@CarlyHFierce: ICYMI Friday: Orexigen picks up new trial tab to settle Contrave dispute with partner Takeda. More | Follow @CarlyHFierce
> GSK defends low-margin strategy with a gloomy outlook for high drug prices. More
> Lilly chalks up a win for Cymbalta in first U.S. trial over withdrawal symptom claims. Article
Animal Health News
> Aratana continues to trim losses in Q2 as it focuses on animal treatments. News
> Merck to partner with National Milk Producers group on training and animal care. Report
> USDA grants conditional license to Zoetis for canine anti-itch therapy. Story
> Feds indict four with smuggling bogus pet products into the U.S. Item
> Dechra to buy control of Croatian animal vaccine maker for $56.4M. Article
Biotech IT News
> Apple's ResearchKit goes global as heart study expands into Hong Kong and U.K. Item
> IBM makes $1B bid for Merge to bolster Watson's image analytics capabilities. Report
> Teva buys majority stake in Immuneering to access genome analysis tools. More
> Illumina strikes deal to buy LIMS provider GenoLogics. Article
> FDA makes its first approval of a 3D-printed drug. Story
Pharma Marketing News
> Allergan plots Namzaric DTC campaign to shore up its Namenda defenses. Item
> Amarin case could unleash a flood of off-label promos. Report
> Novartis goes '80s with Cyndi Lauper-led psoriasis campaign. More
> Xtandi marketer Astellas scrums with rugby partners for prostate cancer awareness. Story
> Big Pharma feeds controversy by routing big bucks to private CME. Article