@FierceBiotech: Merck's fast and furious MK-3475 #immunotherapy team guns for a quick approval. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Interesting to see Sanofi and Roche going deeper into RNAi as Merck bails out, takes a big writeoff for Sirna. Makes sense, though. In or out. | Follow @JohnCFierce
@DamianFierce: With $125M Alexion deal, Moderna has pulled in more than $500M over the past year and change. More | Follow @DamianFierce
@EmilyMFierce: European industry-academic partnership seeks miRNA therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Article | Follow @EmilyMFierce
> Alkermes ($ALKS) will start 2014 flush with cash. Invesco is delivering $250 million through the purchase of shares. The Dublin-based biotech says it plans to use the money for general purposes, but the amount raises the distinct possibility that Alkermes has a deal or two in mind. Release
> Texas-based Lexicon Pharmaceuticals is axing 115 staffers, 45% of the total, in a restructuring. The CEO, Arthur T. Sands, says he's also on the way out once a successor can be found. Release
> Incyte ($INCY) has named Herve Hoppenot, the former president at Novartis Oncology, as the company's new CEO. Release
> Pieris AG reports that it has achieved its third milestone with Daiichi Sankyo on its lead program for Anticalin. Release
@FierceMedDev: Appeals court reaffirms injunction on Boston Scientific's Guidezilla catheter. More | Follow @FierceMedDev
@MarkHFierce: Detailed medical imaging of the skin is drawing investor interest in the U.K. Release | Follow @MarkHFierce
@MichaelGFierce: ICYMI: Global nanomed market, driven by brain delivery, is expected to reach $177B by 2019. Item from FierceDrugDelivery | Follow @MichaelGFierce
@EmilyWFierce: O.C. medical device firm sees great potential in Indian market, expands sales. More | Follow @EmilyWFierce
> St. Jude points to solid Q4 growth in an early earnings release. Story
> Ivantis' $46.5M Series B will propel multiple trials for a tiny eye stent. Article
> Cancer Dx startup Microlin Bio envisions $25M IPO. Item
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: AC Immune begins first trial of a tau-targeting Alzheimer's vaccine. Story from FierceVaccines | Follow @FiercePharma
@TracyStaton: And still FiercePharma's best-read special report: Top 10 Drug Patent Losses of 2014. Report | Follow @TracyStaton
@EricPFierce: There are 3,000 compounding pharmacies making sterile drugs. Just 11 have volunteered for FDA oversight. Story from FiercePharmaManufacturing | Follow @EricPFierce
@CarlyHFierce: Adcock Ingram forges ahead with its African expansion while CFR deal stalls. Friday's story | Follow @CarlyHFierce
> FDA's latest action further imperils Ranbaxy's U.S. sales. Story
> Look for an M&A scramble in 2014, with pharma chasing deals at ever-higher prices. Report
> Chinese corruption probe expands as officials detain former Sinopharm exec. More
CRO News
> Quintiles partners up to boost its commercialization business. More
> Theorem aligns with BioTelemetry to dial up its cardiac market share. Report
> CROS NT buys into biometrics with its latest acquisition. News
> Pfizer taps risk-sharing researcher Avillion for cancer PhIII. Story
> JSS eyes Canadian dominance with buyout of rival CRO. Article
> GoBalto goes global with expansion into U.K. and Singapore. Item
Biotech IT News
> New York Genome Center taps U. of Buffalo for computing horsepower. Report
> Pfizer trialing video game designed to diagnose Alzheimer's. Item
> Merge wipes $15M from backlog after discovering ex-employee faked contracts. News
> Merck invests in an FDA-cleared mobile diabetes management business. Article
> Analyst: CROs like Covance and Icon will take the lead on IT and genomics. Story
> Early Google investor picks Maverix from the genome data analysis crowd. More