Sangamo grabs $6.4M partnership for gene-editing drug; Novartis comes clean on actions of employees in 'independent' Diovan studies;

 @FierceBiotech: Check out this week's roundup of job changes in biopharma via @MichaelGFierce and @EmilyMFierce. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: Aveo shares shellacked after Astellas drops EU game plan on kidney cancer. More | Follow @JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: Merck marks another failure in elusive hunt for Parkinson's disease drugs. Article | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Following criticisms about conflicts of interest in its ranks, Novartis ($NVS) said on its website that two company employees were involved in what were supposed to be independent clinical trials for its blockbuster Diovan. Article

> Sangamo BioSciences ($SGMO) has scored a $6.4 million award from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to develop a potential corrective therapy based on the biotech's gene-editing technology for the blood disorder beta-thalassemia. Release

> QB3 Institute has struck a partnership to open its fifth life sciences incubator to support startups in the Bay Area, targeting a 24,000-square-foot space in the San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood. Article

Pharma News

 @FiercePharma: Novo Nordisk figures it could launch Victoza (liraglutide) as obesity treatment by end of 2014. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

 @EricPFierce: Yes, J&J has an impressive pipeline, but its extensions of existing drugs could add billions to the top line. Report | Follow @EricPFierce

> BRIC markets turning out to be tougher to mine than expected. More

> Former Carl Icahn proxy brawler Alex Denner joins fight against Vivus board. Story

> Novartis apologizes over Diovan study as probe shows employee involvement in trials. Article

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: Roche wins FDA approval for novel diabetes diagnostic. More | Follow @FierceMedDev

 @MarkHFierce: Looks like Panasonic's bid to attract new investment for its healthcare arm is drawing major interest. Story | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: Intuitive won its first da Vinci lawsuit, dodging $8.5M in damages. Article | Follow @DamianFierce

> Ethicon study asserts safety of medical-grade polycarbonate devices. Story

> Covidien, Kona Medical trumpet new tech at EuroPCR. More

> Covidien's board approves pharma spinoff. Article

And Finally… Are the folks from Genentech getting a head start on packing for the big ASCO meeting? Video