StemCells lines up $30M in financing; Biotie grabs option to buy San Diego biotech; Edge Therapeutics executes $18M Series C;

 @FierceBiotech: Trending: Top 10 experimental cancer drugs - 2013. Special report | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: Remember the Pluristem scandal last fall? FDA clamps clinical hold on Pluristem PhII stem cell trial. More | Follow @JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: J&J backs $biotech startup Protagonist in $14M financing. News | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Newark, CA-based StemCells ($STEM) forged a deal to sell up to $30 million in shares to Lincoln Park Capital Fund. Release

> Finland's Biotie Therapies has snagged an option to acquire San Diego-based Neurelis, which is developing treatments for epilepsy and other CNS disorders. Release

> Edge Therapeutics says it raised $18 million in a Series C. The biotech is developing hospital products for acute, fatal or debilitating conditions. Release

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: Stryker confronts mounting metal hip recall lawsuits. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev

 @DamianFierce: St. Jude is targeting FDA approval for its renal denervation device with a new study. Report | Follow @DamianFierce

 @MarkHFierce: Get your FMD Fierce 15 nominations in today. | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @MichaelGFierce: ICYMI yesterday: Medtronic triggers summer PMA process for drug-eluting balloon. Story | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> Medtronic wins FDA nod, CE mark for angioplasty balloon. Story

> Zimmer boosts bone biz with German buyout. News

> Canon revs up MA med tech R&D operation. Report

>  U of Minnesota fires competitive blast with new med devices center. Item

Pharma News

 @FiercePharma: FDA close to resolving all cancer drug shortages; most stem from production halts to fix manufacturing issues. More | Follow @FiercePharma

 @EricPFierce: ICYMI: Dr. Reddy's, Fujifilm pull plug on Japanese joint venture. Article | Follow @EricPFierce

 @CarlyHFierce: European Commission to crack down on 'pay for delay,' reportedly fine 9 companies including Lundbeck, Merck KGaA, Ranbaxy. Article | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> J&J recalls millions of contraceptives as problems pile up. More

> Limited track-and-trace moves forward in U.S. Story

> Bristol-Myers' Abilify coupons prevail in health-plan lawsuit. Article

Biotech Research News

 @EmilyMFierce: Alterations in one gene may drive allergic, autoimmune diseases. Story | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> $750,000 in grants available to scientific researchers under new program. Report

> NIH lays out effects of sequestration on biomedical research. News

> New agent stops replication of hep C virus in preclinical studies. Article

> Pfizer taps UCSF for small-molecule drug discovery. Story

Pharma Manufacturing News

> CorePharma gets closeout letter for NJ plant. Report

> WSJ: Novartis looks to unload CMO LTS Lohmann. Article

> FDA close to resolving all cancer drug shortages. Story

> Explosion, fire at Teva plant kills one, injures 30. More

And Finally… Adding up all the lost productivity for smokers from smoking breaks and added healthcare costs, investigators say that smokers cost an employer an extra $5,816 a year on average compared to non-smokers. Release