Leo Pharma gets FDA nod for skin cancer gel; Aphios wins backing for new Alzheimer's drug;

@FierceBiotech: Roche's hostile Illumina bid highlights two hot trends in biopharma. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: New research links children's exposure to PFCs--found all over the place--with lowered immune response to vaccines. Article | Follow @JohnCFierce

@MarkHFierce: Adult stem cells helped build a better rat penis. You read that right. More | Follow @MarkHFierce

> The FDA has approved a new gel from Leo Pharma which treats a skin condition linked to the later development of cancer. Article

> Woburn, MA-based Aphios has won a $2.4 million grant from the NIH to finance its work on a new treatment for Alzheimer's. Story

> Galena has started a late-stage study of NeuVax, its breast cancer vaccine hopeful that targets HER2 1+ and 2+ patients. Story

> Spain's Almirall is forming a drug discovery alliance with Galapagos focused on one of Almirall's respiratory targets. Release

Pharma News

> Novartis expects lower 2012 margin, despite cost cuts. More

> Reps get $99M settlement in Novartis OT case. News

Drug Delivery News

> Report: Roche transferring Israeli diabetes operations to Europe. Story

> Next-gen nanoparticles deliver cancer drugs at just the right moment. Article

> Mylan concocts ready-to-use epilepsy drug variation. News

> University of Arkansas heightens nanomedicine research efforts. Item

Medical Device News

> Medtronic concludes enrollment in 'extreme risk' study of CoreValve. Item

> Roche looks to snatch up Illumina for $5.7B. More

> Mevion scores $45M for proton therapy system. News

> CN Creative nails $3.1M for electronic inhaler smoking cessation device. Article

Biomarkers News

> Blood test could predict kidney disease 10 years early. Story

> Quintiles helps form personalized medicine joint venture. News

> Researchers fingerprint head, neck cancer for better diagnostics. Article

> Crosswords, reading cut Alzheimer's biomarker. More

And Finally... Researchers in Spain have developed a new approach to diagnosing Alzheimer's that may only require a simple blood test. Release