MorphoSys sells research and diagnostic segment for 53M euros; California startup Allakos raises $32M; Promedior completes move to MA;

Conversations on Twitter :

 @FierceBiotech: Baxter joins Big Pharma funds on $38M B round for Naurex antidepression R&D. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Troubled Intercell (bought Iomai) throws in the towel, signs off on merger deal with Vivalis. More | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: Dang. Another biotech deal this busy am. Naurex nails down $38M B round led by Baxter for depression candidate. Release | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Germany's MorphoSys AG has agreed to sell its research and diagnostic antibody segment AbD Serotec to Bio-Rad Laboratories for €53 million in cash. The biotech plans to focus on its own antibody pipeline work. Release

> San Mateo, CA-based startup Allakos Therapeutics rounded up $32 million in its Series A round. Novo Ventures led the round with participation from Alta Partners, RiverVest Venture Partners and the Roche Venture Fund. The biotech is developing antibodies for allergic and inflammatory diseases. Release

> Promedior has completed its relocation from Philadelphia to the Boston area with the official opening of its lab and office space in Lexington, MA. Story

> Flexion Therapeutics says that FX006, its intra-articular, sustained-release steroid, maintained therapeutic concentrations in the knee joint significantly longer than the most commonly prescribed immediate-release steroid, triamcinolone acetonide, in a Phase II pharmacokinetic study. Release

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: AstraZeneca beats back would-be Crestor copycats. Report | Follow @FiercePharma

> France herds patients, pharmacists toward cheap generics. News

> Teva taps S. Korea's Handok for assault on $14B market. Story

> U.S. branded sales to end 2012 with 3.5% decline. Article

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: Malaysia is working hard to diversify its med device manufacturing base. International competition is increasing. News | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: Barron's sees J&J poised for major growth, but NOT through its med device business. More | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: Quintiles is handling recruitment and "clinical services" for AstraZeneca's novel depression drug. Story | Follow @DamianFierce

> Orthofix resolves Medicare kickback case. News

> Amarantus licenses Alzheimer's blood Dx. Story

> Bioresorbable stents hit India, but most patients can't afford them. Article

Biotech IT News

> How lessons from iPhone's Siri aid biological exploration. Story

> GlaxoSmithKline dials up Vodafone for mobile tech alliance. Article

> Russian billionaire backs 23andMe in $50M round. News

> Could computers predict the next big Alzheimer's drug? Report

CRO News

> Patheon closes $255M Banner deal. Item

> Charles River projects a modest 2013, slides on the Street. Story

> Catalent inks biosimilar deal with Japanese CMO. Article

> Quintiles recruiting for AstraZeneca's novel depression drug. News

> Warnex closes bioanalytics sale, exits CRO biz. Report

And Finally… A group of researchers at Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry says that a commonly used cognitive test used in Alzheimer's drug research is deeply flawed, skewing the results of drug trials in the field. Release