Sage sets sights on Phase III; Receptos gets M&A interest;

@FierceBiotech: Index Ventures banks 650M euros for its new tech fund. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Novartis steps in to help bankroll CRISPR-Cas9 pioneer Caribou. Article | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Serious question: Is the $SRPT hold muzak an instrumental of "I'm all out of love / I'm so lost without you?" | Follow @DamianFierce

> After a positive meeting with the FDA, Sage Therapeutics ($SAGE) has designed a Phase III program for its top prospect, and the biotech is planning to start enrollment in the middle of the year. More

> Receptos ($RCPT), seeking out a partner for its in-development multiple sclerosis treatment, is getting heavy interest from potential acquirers, according to Bloomberg. News

> South Korea's Celltrion says it plans to launch a biosimilar of Johnson & Johnson's ($JNJ) blockbuster Remicade by the end of this year. Story

> Biotech investor MPM Capital has recruited longtime Novartis ($NVS) buyout director Tony Rosenberg to serve as a managing director, tapping his expertise for its portfolio companies. News

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Japanese researchers study carbon nanotubes with drug delivery applications. FierceDrugDelivery story | Follow @FierceMedDev

@StacyALawrence: ICYMI: App enabling iPhone to function as hearing aid launched. Article | Follow @StacyALawrence

@VarunSaxena2: Pilot program deploying COPD Navigator app launched with participation of Mount Sinai hospital. Story | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@EmilyWFierce: Check out this week's edition of FierceLifeSci here, feat. $SHPG, $NVO, $PHG and a #FierceMadness update. Issue | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Boston Scientific buys endoscopic, ultrasound pancreatic treatment startup for $75M+. Article

> Israeli scientist developing novel wound-closing laser. Item

> Medtronic tries again in renal denervation after previous trial failure. More

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Texas Tech scientists discover that antibiotic-resistant bugs from cattle lots are airborne. FierceAnimalHealth story | Follow @FiercePharma

@CarlyHFierce: ICYMI: Actavis execs up for $101M in merger-related bonuses, if investors approve. Story | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> BMJ: Novartis tried to 'scupper' trials to protect Lucentis from cheap Avastin. More

> Watch out, pharma. Fitch says the M&A party could come with a hangover. Story

CRO News

> Piramal sells its CRO division to India's Indoco. Item

> WuXi and AstraZeneca roll toward Chinese approval with an arthritis drug. More

> Quintiles and Quest team up for lab testing with $575M JV. Report

> PPD's X-Chem flips some potential drugs to partner Navitor. Story

> Parexel buys an Indian CRO with an eye on drug safety. Article

Vaccines News

> Pfizer pulls vaccines sales business out of China. More

> Analysts: GSK shingles vaccine could steal market share from Merck's Zostavax. Story

> Sanofi, Merck win EMA nod for Gardasil 9. News

> GlaxoSmithKline and Merck Ebola vaccines succeed in Phase II Liberian trials. More

> GSK finally seals U.K. Bexsero deal for £20 per dose. Article

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Drug distributor goes 'Google' style with new facility. Article

> Catalent wraps another Asia-Pacific deal with Pharmapak buy. More

> Biocon's Syngene to build a plant in India. Story

> IPCA Labs' CRO in U.K. adding API space. Item

> Doctor to pay $2M, pleads guilty to dispensing foreign cancer drugs. Article

Pharma Asia News

> Infinity pulls trigger on Takeda oncology candidate option. More

> Takeda looks to settle thousands of Actos U.S. lawsuits for $2B. Article

> HK's Sihuan in partnership with Covance on drug development. Item

> India's Dr Reddy's snaps up some UCB brands in South Asia for $128.3M. Story

> Neurocrine and Mitsubishi Tanabe in license deal on Huntington's disease candidate. Report