Spotlight On... Sorrento, Yuhan create a JV for checkpoint drugs; Gene therapy startup Regenxbio grows fast; Hutchison launches PhII in China; and more...

San Diego-based Sorrento Therapeutics ($SRNE) is forming a joint venture with South Korea's Yuhan to develop immune checkpoint antibodies for cancer. Yuhan is seeing ImmuneOncia Therapeutics with a $10 million payment. Release

@FierceBiotech: Merck launches late-stage trials for Humira biosimilar. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: ICYMI: Gilead's latest HIV cocktail wins FDA approval with a blockbuster pedigree. Article | Follow @JohnCFierce

> The Washington Business Journal outlines the fast growth behind the gene therapy company Regenxbio ($RGNX), which now has some 60 staffers. Story

> Hutchison MediPharma Limited launched an open-label Phase II clinical trial to evaluate sulfatinib (HMPL-012) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer ("DTC") or medullary thyroid cancer ("MTC") in China. The first patient was dosed on March 1, 2016. Release

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Scientists create digital 'magic wand' to improve at-home device cybersecurity. Report | Follow @FierceMedDev

@EmilyWFierce: ICYMI: Voice box maker Atos Medical goes on the chopping block for €1 billion: WSJ. Story | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Olympus to fork over $646M to DOJ over a bribery scandal in largest-ever medical device settlement. Article

> Smith & Nephew ($SNN) touts its new 3-D printed hip implant. More

> Zimmer ($ZBH) buys Ortho Transmission to better serve amputees using novel surgical approach. News

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Bayer incoming CEO highlights OTC challenges in China in three-way integration. FiercePharmaAsia story | Follow @FiercePharma

@CarlyHFierce: Pressed by reporters, Valeant 'fesses up to SEC investigation. Report | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Amgen ($AMGN) targets Sandoz's Enbrel biosim with patent infringement suit. Story

> Sanofi ($SNY) having difficulty deciding how, or even if, to divest EU generics biz. Article

> U.K. cost watchdogs snub key J&J ($JNJ) med Imbruvica on first go-around. More

Biotech Research News

> Stanford researchers show glucose-binging immune cells central to coronary artery disease. More

> Clearing inflammatory cells improves memory in a mouse model for Alzheimer's. Story

> Texas Tech team experiments with CRISPR/Cas9 upgrade. Item

> Single monoclonal antibody shows promise in pre-clinical Ebola virus disease. Report

> Molecular 'brake' curbs inflammation, could combat aging. Article

Pharma Marketing News

> Amgen hits Sandoz with patent infringement suit over Enbrel biosim. Item

> Dancing bladders and football-helmeted toenails have FDA questioning cartoons in DTC ads. Report

> Free speech crops up in another off-label marketing legal victory for industry. Article

> Don't give up on biosim Copaxone, despite Teva's ($TEVA) aggressive brand defense: Momenta CEO. More

> Talk show host Dr. Phil has a new subject: AstraZeneca's ($AZN) Bydureon. Story

Vaccines News

> U.K. rejects petition demanding meningitis B vaccine for all children. More

> Novavax ($NVAX) explores Zika vaccine R&D effort as the virus continues to spread. Report

> Seqirus to build new U.K. manufacturing outpost. Item

> U.S. Army, GSK's ($GSK) P. vivax malaria vaccine fails to protect in an early trial. Story

> New South Korean study could help direct MERS vaccine development. Article