Salix plans a tax inversion; Lexicon teams up with JDRF on diabetes PhII;

@FierceBiotech: Trending on FierceDrugDelivery@MIT, MicroCHIPS develop remote-controlled contraceptive with on-off delivery. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: After a taste of disaster, Reata plans a comeback for bardoxolone - in Ph2 for PAH now after CKD blowup. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Bernstein's Porges: "Wouldn't hold our breath" for any meaningful AS revenue from CELG's apremilast. More | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: Oops: Smallpox discovered sitting in Maryland storage room. Story via The Washington Post | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Salix Pharmaceuticals ($SLXP) has engineered a reverse merger with Cosmo Pharmaceuticals that will grant it an Irish domicile, joining the cadre of drugmakers fleeing to the country for its lower tax rate. Article

> JDRF has signed on to help fund Lexicon Pharmaceuticals' ($LXRX) Phase II study of LX4211 in young patients with Type 1 diabetes. The drug is an inhibitor of SGLT1 and SGLT2, designed to lower blood glucose levels by expelling excess sugars through the urine. More

> Mariel Therapeutics is buying some bone protein biologics from medical device giant Stryker ($SYK), assets the company said could become treatments for osteoarthritis, chronic kidney disease and organ fibrosis ailments. Story

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Proteome Sciences, U.K. academics spot 10 Alzheimer's predictive biomarkers in blood. FierceDiagnostics story | Follow @FierceMedDev

@StacyALawrence: Surgeons tout benefits of Google Glass in operating room. More | Follow @StacyALawrence

@VarunSaxena2: Check out our special report on the top 10 highest paid med tech CEOs. | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@MichaelGFierce: MIT, MicroCHIPS develop remote-controlled contraceptive with on-off delivery. FierceDrugDelivery story | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@EmilyWFierce: Volatile compounds in fruits influence our perception of taste and smell, could trick us into healthy eating. Wired story | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> India may alter medical device taxation that favors imports. Item

> Zimmer, Biomet hit regulatory speedbump in pending merger. Story

> NeuroMetrix gains on FDA clearance of over-the-counter wearable, chronic pain device. Article

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Biogen prices new, long-acting hemophilia med with eye on patient-switching. Story via FiercePharmaMarketing | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Health Canada tells GSK to get its vaccine house in order as flu season approaches. More | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: Report: Cancer immunotherapy market to hit $9B by 2022. Item | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Actavis cans 190 Forest workers while 6 execs share up to $186M in deal 'awards.' News

> Salix picks up Cosmo's Irish unit for $2.7B and a lower tax bill. News

> EU's third pay-for-delay action nails Servier, Teva, Mylan and others. Article

Drug Delivery News

> Researchers develop new chemo that targets mitochondrial DNA. Report

> Sanofi Pasteur taps CureVac for its RNA vaccine tech. Story

> InSite plans 2015 FDA submission for inflammation eye drop with suspended delivery. News

> Vaginal ring achieves localized, sustained release of anti-HIV drugs. More

> MIT, MicroCHIPS develop remote-controlled contraceptive with on-off delivery. Article

Diagnostics News

> U.K. company readies jump into bustling prenatal Dx market. Article

> NIH gives Kansas City startup $3M to come up with a quicker sepsis Dx test. More

> UC San Diego biomarker discovery could boost brain cancer drug's success rate. Story

> With funding secured, Definiens CEO Heydler talks about hoped-for digital tissue Dx boom. Article

> Proteome Sciences, U.K. academics spot 10 Alzheimer's predictive biomarkers in blood. Report

Pharma Marketing News

> Which big brands will still be bringing in the big bucks in 2020? Report

> Merck reaches doctors in India with online teaching tool. More

> Biogen prices new, long-acting hemophilia med with eye on patient-switching. Article

> Report: Cancer immunotherapy market to hit $9B by 2022. Item

> Is a price war imminent when Sanofi's Lantus patent falls? Story