Skyline throws in towel on fundraising; Biosimilar version of Humira under way;

 @FierceBiotech: High blood pressure medicine boosts memories of Alzheimer's-stricken mice. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @RyanMFierce: Novo is confident in heart safety of degludec, Reuters reports. Gotta make the case to Nov. 8 FDA panel, though. More | Follow @RyanMFierce

> A pair of companies is joining forces on a biosimilar version of Abbott's ($ABT) megablockbuster Humira. Item

> Feeling the squeeze of a contracting venture capital industry, Skyline Ventures is shrinking its partnership and postponing its fundraising efforts, Luke Timmerman reports. Article

> The Battle Against Cancer Investment Trust (BACIT) has raised 207 million pounds in an initial public offering, with plans to nix management fees and invest as much as 1% of its capital into cancer drug development and research. Report

> Novartis ($NVS) owes partner Vectura a $5 million milestone payment, triggered by the Swiss pharma giant's EMA filing of its drug QVA149 for smoker's cough or COPD that uses Vectura's inhaler technology. Report

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: Varian Medical Systems booked a banner Q4. Response: investors drove the stock price up more than 16%. Release | Follow @FierceMedDev

 @MarkHFierce: Philips and Elekta are beefing up a joint program focused on blending a linear accelerator with MRI. Release | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: Bayer has called off the sale of its glucose meter business, according to a German newspaper. Report | Follow @DamianFierce

> Philips, Elekta consortium building MRI/radiation treatment system. News

> St. Jude dealt a blow with heart-plug study. Report

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Boehringer Ingelheim settles marketing case for just $95M. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

> Germany, France join crowd withdrawing Novartis vaccines. News

> Merck's hustle helps offset Singulair's declines. Report

> Novo's new insulin Tresiba to face tough questions from FDA panel. More

And Finally… Scientists have advanced a method of adding healthy genes in human eggs to address risks of inherited disease. Report