Sun Pharma maps a $200M-plus PhIII psoriasis program; Patheon, Argos plot expansion efforts;

@FierceBiotech: Check out our new feature: Top women in #biotech 2014. Special report | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Struggling $TEVA slashing R&D, chops 14 programs as it retreats on two fronts. More | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: $ZAFG's @TEHughes2009 on leaving Big Pharma for small biotech. Article | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: Mining the microbiome for new therapeutics. Item | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> India's Sun Pharmaceutical says it will spend more than $200 million on the late-stage program for the psoriasis drug--MK-3222--it inlicensed recently from Merck ($MRK). Sun paid $80 million upfront for the drug, which is one of many angling for the lead in a frenzied late-stage development race in psoriasis. Story

> Shares of Chimerix ($CMRX) spiked this morning on the news that the FDA is allowing the use of its powerful antiviral brincidofovir against Ebola. Release

> With incentives from the state of North Carolina in hand, Patheon as well as Argos Therapeutics are blueprinting expansion plans that could add hundreds of new manufacturing jobs in the state. Report

> Allergan ($AGN) CEO David Pyott, who's been fending off an attempted Valeant buyout, has resigned from his board seat at Edwards Lifesciences. Release

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: $BD to buy CareFusion for $12.2B to become more hospital-focused. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev

@VarunSaxena2: Medtronic undeterred by new regs, to finance acquisition of Covidien with external funds. More | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@EmilyWFierce: Pain-management outfit Nevro heads to market with plans for $125M IPO. Article | Follow @EmilyWFierce

@MichaelGFierce: From our Women in Biotech Feature: Adelene Perkins of $INFI says, "Our endeavor is by definition a team sport." Report | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> Attorney questions FDA's authority to regulate devices promoted on social media. More

> BD to buy CareFusion for $12.2B to become more hospital-focused. Article

> Pain-management outfit Nevro heads to market with plans for $125M IPO. Story

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Top-read special report this weekend: Top 10 #pharma companies by employees - 2014. Report | Follow @FiercePharma

@CarlyHFierce: Here's a profile on Pfizer's Susan Silbermann, whose #Vaccines unit has recently scored some big wins. More | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Top execs bicker over Sanofi's plan to unload $8B portfolio of old drugs. More

> Peg cancer drug prices to effectiveness, '60 Minutes' interviewee suggests. Article

> Endo accused of $112M payoff in Opana pay-for-delay suit. News

CRO News

> WuXi snags a stateside CRO to beef up its early-stage services. News

> Catalent bets on armed antibodies with Redwood buyout. Report

> Chiltern picks up an Asian CRO with eyes on oncology. Story

> Accelovance poaches a Big Pharma vet to lead its oncology efforts. Article

> European CRO Genae stretches out in the U.S. Item

Biotech IT News

> EMA overturns ban on data downloads in final transparency policy. News

> Facebook mulls move into healthcare sector. Item

> Wall Street turns to social-listening tools to guide pharma bets. Report

> Google joins BRAIN Initiative to help with petabyte-scale data sets. Article

> IT projects grab slice of $102M round of PCORI funding. More

Animal Health News

> Report: Integrated Animal Health to roll out pain patches for pets, other animals. Story

> FAO says control of Madagascar locust plague threatened by lack of funds. Item

> Neogen acquires BioLumix through purchase of outstanding stock. News

> Ceva spends $23M to upgrade its sterile products plant in France. Article

> Kansas State researchers get $1.1M NIH grant to study swine flu. More