Medivir abandons hep C NS5A program; Athersys runs into recruitment hurdle; Seattle BioMed wins $16M grant;

@FierceBiotech: ICYMI yesterday: The hottest disease field for biotech startups and M&A might surprise you (not cancer). Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Two biotechs--Alexion and Regeneron--in top 5 of Forbes' top 100 innovators. Impressive. Article | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: ICYMI: The man who cured aging? Industry Voices | Follow @RyanMFierce

@EmilyMFierce: Seattle BioMed wins $16M NIH grant for tuberculosis research. Article | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Medivir ($MVIR), which is partnered with Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) on the late-stage hep C drug simeprevir, is giving up on its effort to develop an NS5A inhibitor that could be used in an interferon-free cocktail. Release

> Cleveland-based Athersys says it has experienced trouble recruiting patients for a Phase II study of its adult stem cell treatment.  Report

> Seattle BioMed won a $16.6 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to work on tuberculosis. Story

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Special Report: How did Israel become a hotbed for medical devices? Feature | Follow @FierceMedDev

@DamianFierce: FDA's former IT boss Eric Perakslis nails down industry gig. Story from FierceBiotechIT.com | Follow @DamianFierce

@MarkHFierce: Second Sight achieved the holy grail for new devices: CMS reimbursement. Press release | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: St. Jude nets FDA approval for low-radiation ablation catheters. News | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> NxThera to launch U.S. clinical trial with $18.2M Series C. More

> Medtronic closes in on FDA nod with drug-eluting balloon. Article

> Study: Spooked docs are lining Dx companies' pockets. Story

> InSightec's surgery-free brain tech eases tremor in study. Report

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: New data cuts link between preventive use of Propecia/Proscar and faster-growing prostate tumors. More | Follow @FiercePharma

@CarlyHFierce: South Africa's Adcock Ingram so far staying true to suitor CFR - still in exclusive talks after $1.3B bid. Report | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> NY fund trustee to continue push for exec-pay clawbacks at Abbott. Story

> Which are pharma's top 4 innovators? Hint: It's not the big guys. Report

> Novartis opens internal China probe after former rep demanded $800K. News

Pharma Manufacturing News

@EricPFierce: Not all of the Merck plants in Ireland have seen jobs cut. A plant in Swords added 70 people last year. Report | Follow @EricPFierce

> Deaths tied to recalled drugs from Texas compounder. More

> Jubilant HollisterStier adds to global sterile manufacturing supply. Report

> FDA takes deep dive into opioid APIs. More

> Sanofi U.K. plant benefits from SkyePharma progress. Article

> Deaths tied to recalled drugs from Texas compounder. Story

Vaccines News

> Vaccine calms fears of meningitis becoming AIDS-like epidemic. More

> Researchers aim at trial to test whether BCG vaccine cuts risk of allergies. Report

> Study reconfirms safety of flu vaccine in pregnant women. Story

> Researchers aim at trial to test whether BCG vaccine cuts risk of allergies. More

> Incredulity turns to praise as malaria vaccine posts positive PhI data. Article

And Finally… Scientists have discovered 21 mutations that can trigger cancer tumors. Story