Merus wins milestone from Novartis; Avanir completes pharmacokinetic study;

 @FierceBiotech: From FierceBiotechIT.com: Biotech, pharma warming up to Facebook. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: 7 pharmas join hands to create a new discovery platform--€196M: Report | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: The Swiss biotech Addex is downsizing its Geneva operation after cuts last year. No details on jobs. Release | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Dutch biotech Merus says it won a milestone in its option agreement with Novartis Option Fund. Release

> Avanir Pharmaceuticals says it has successfully completed the first of a two-stage pharmacokinetic study with AVP-786, a drug product containing a deuterium modified form of dextromethorphan. Release

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Here's one way for pharma to boost earnings: Cut tax rates. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Would your plant receive an A or an F under FDA Woodcock's suggestion of letter grades for quality? More from FiercePharmaManufacturing | Follow @EricPFierce

@AlisonBFierce: GBI Research forecasts that the global pediatric vaccines market will hit $24.3 billion by 2017. More | Follow @AlisonBFierce

> Teva hikes dividend as earnings fall short. News

> Swamped with generics, Sanofi rides Lantus to dry land. Article

> Fight for anticoagulant market heats up with antidote deals. More\

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: True Diagnostics revs up EU prostate cancer Dx launch. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev

 @MarkHFierce: Minnesota's legislative delegation is pursuing a new repeal effort for the 2.3% medical device tax. News | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: A new brain-stimulation method could make a major difference for depression sufferers, according to a study. More | Follow @DamianFierce

> Smith & Nephew watches profits slip as it reorganizes. Report

> Stryker crushes Zimmer with $70M patent violation verdict. Story

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Specialized manufacturing technology punches ticket to Protalix's value. Report

> China sends 7 to prison for producing toxic capsules. Story

> Meds from foreign plants complicate counterfeit search. More

> GSK to squeeze manufacturing in Europe but U.K. spared. Article

Vaccines News

> Global health funding slows amid financial concerns. Report

> Parents supportive of vaccinating boys for HPV. Item

> Gates-backed researchers explore pain-free vaccine technology. Article

> Merck, GSK partner with GAVI to provide low-cost HPV vaccine. News

> Despite setback, TB vaccine study is a step in the right direction. More

And Finally… Investigators at the Scripps Research Institute report that they were able to show in animal models that two compounds inhibiting a specific enzyme protects heart cells and surrounding tissue against serious damage from heart attacks. Release