Six venture-backed IPOs raised just $574.5 million in the first quarter of 2016, according to the Exit Poll Report by analysts at Thomson Reuters and the National Venture Capital Association. This marks the slowest quarter for these types of IPOs since the third quarter of 2011. In all, 79 venture-backed M&A deals were reported in the first quarter, 20 of which reported an aggregate deal value of $4.8 billion, according to the study. "Due to a sustained period of turbulence in the public markets at the start of the year combined with non-traditional investors making direct investments into later-stage startups, venture-backed IPO activity in the first quarter was nearly non-existent," said Bobby Franklin, president and CEO of NVCA. This also comes a week after new figures revealed that the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index was down 23% in the first quarter. Release
@FierceBiotech: Gilead bags early-stage NASH drug in $1.2B Nimbus deal. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Trending nicely: Did Clovis play a deceptive game with rociletinib data in leadup to its PhIII stunner? Article | Follow @JohnCFierce
> Amicus Therapeutics ($FOLD) is still negotiating with the FDA about the fate of migalastat, an experimental Fabry disease drug, but on Friday the biotech won a recommendation for European approval from the EMA. Story
> Catabasis Pharmaceuticals ($CATB) CFO Ian Sanderson is leaving the company for a startup. Release
> The execs at Juno Therapeutics ($JUNO) are unhappy with the Washington legislature, and CEO Hans Bishop is urging lawmakers to do more to back innovation. Story
Medical Device News
@FierceMedDev: ICYMI Friday: Cardiovascular Systems to trim 8% of its workforce in effort to return to profit. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev
@VarunSaxena2: PARTNER II trial showed noninferiority to surgery. Transfemoral patients showed superiority. (25% of patients were transapical.) | Follow @VarunSaxena2
> St. Jude touts favorable study of CardioMEMS heart failure monitor. Story
> Edwards up 13% on Sapien TAVR data in intermediate-risk heart patients. Article
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: Jaguar's loss doubles as it boosts R&D in support of top market contenders. More | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: #EMA finds big problems at India's Anuh Pharma Boisar plant. Story | Follow @EricPFierce
@CarlyHFierce: Label surprise boosts Jazz as it preps Defitelio rollout. Article | Follow @CarlyHFierce
> Roche softens tone with U.K., says it is willing to try pay-for-performance pricing. News
> Discounts on some top 10 meds cancel out price hikes. Others, not so much. Article
Animal Health News
> Iowa researchers shed light on disease that causes lameness in cows. More
> Endangered orcas get their own personal health records. Item
> Jaguar's loss doubles as it boosts R&D in support of top market contenders. Report
> Lethal bat disease spreads across U.S. as wildlife experts scramble for clues. Story
> Virbac plans $37.9M expansion in MO, adding 144 animal health jobs. Article
Biotech IT News
> Bluebee pulls in $11M to advance cloud genome analysis platform. More
> Dassault Systèmes forms clinical trial tech pact with Inserm. Report
> Intel signs up Dana-Farber, Ontario Institute to cloud cancer data hub. Story
> PwC: Biopharma must turn to tech to address surge in data integrity violations. Article
> DNA testing service helps Ancestry land investment valuing business at $2.6B. News
Pharma Marketing News
> Allergy battle goes young as GSK's Flonase, Sanofi's Nasacort roll out kid-labeled OTC sprays. Report
> Drugmakers see no marketing leverage from FDA biosim guidelines. Story
> AstraZeneca's Brilinta sharpens marketing edge in new ACC/AHA guidelines. More
> GSK weighs 'staggered payments' for pricey gene therapy Strimvelis. Item
> Once again, Pharma beats all other industries with $1.5B in magazine ads. Article