@FierceBiotech: GSK buys Okairos (Fierce 15 profile) for $325M, strengthens vaccines biz. Release | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Novo spearheads $175M financing to back Ophthotech's PhIII AMD study. News | Follow @JohnCFierce
@RyanMFierce: GenVec seeks liquidation after gene therapy setbacks. Article | Follow @RyanMFierce
> Janssen and Johnson & Johnson Innovation are committing up to €5 million over a 5-year period to sponsor research work on neurological diseases at VIB, KU Leuven and UZ Leuven. Release
> AstraZeneca ($AZN) is getting a little extra help for its R&D work on Parkinson's disease. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research awarded AstraZeneca a $465,000 grant to support research on levodopa-induced dyskinesias, a complication of therapies commonly used to reduce Parkinson's disease symptoms. Release
> The FDA has accepted Pozen's ($POZN) NDA on PA32540/PA8140 for review. Release
> Targacept ($TRGT) launched a Phase IIb clinical study of TC-5214 for overactive bladder. Release
@FierceMedDev: Luminex re-ups assay deal with Merck KGaA. News | Follow @FierceMedDev
@DamianFierce: Cyberonics slides after CMS again rejects depression device for reimbursement. Article | Follow @DamianFierce
> Teleflex snags CE mark for balloon catheter. More
> CMS declines coverage for Cyberonics' depression device. Story
> Biosensors bets on 15% annual growth thanks to M&A. Article
> Toshiba, TPG said to bid on Panasonic's billion-dollar health biz. Report
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: More Indian hospitals eye anti-Ranbaxy policies, Business Standard reports. Some patients asking to switch. Report | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: U.S. arrests 2 Pakistani men for selling controlled substances via the Internet. Interpol tracks them to London. Story | Follow @EricPFierce
@CarlyHFierce: First Ranbaxy, now Wockhardt - what is India to do about its manufacturing problems? Regulators unsure. More | Follow @CarlyHFierce
> Re-analyzed Avandia data shows no increased heart risks. Report
> Big Kahuna statins gobble up bigger share of cholesterol market. Story
> Amgen forges ahead in Japan with Astellas joint venture. News
Biomarkers News
@EmilyMFierce: University of Alabama begins Parkinson's biomarker study. Story | Follow @EmilyMFierce
> New CTC technology looks promising to track evolution of prostate cancer. Report
> Swedish team discovers protein common to aggressive bladder cancer. More
> Cenix to collaborate with Debiopharm on predictive biomarkers. Article
> Pancreatitis or cancer? Mayo Clinic says mutated gene points the way. Story
> Johns Hopkins: Two genes help predict postpartum depression risk. Item
Drug Delivery News
@MichaelGFierce: Morphine delivery platform could diminish abuse potential. Item | Follow @MichaelGFierce
> Shape-shifting nanoparticles anchor to tumor cells, deliver drugs. Story
> New drug targets lock-and-key mechanism of prostate cancer growth. Article
> Covidien completes successful drug-coated balloon trial. More
> Inhalable chemo-carrying nanoparticles target lung cancer directly. Report
And Finally… A man in France has now died from a lethal coronavirus first identified last fall. The WHO says the virus is a threat to the world. Story