Synta rises ahead of lung cancer study data; Forest Labs inks $25M deal for new antibiotic;

 @FierceBiotech: ASCO spotlight: Antibody-drug conjugates arrive: Report | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: Now this you hardly ever see: BMS CEO throws down the gauntlet on Gilead, demands combo hep c study. Check it out. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: How many times did Marina change its name during lackluster run? I count at least 2 changes. | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Synta Pharmaceuticals' ($SNTA) stock jumped Thursday by nearly 16% as investors anticipated results of the company's mid-stage study of ganetespib in certain patients with lung cancer. Report

> Johnson & Johnson's ($JNJ) Janssen R&D group has turned in a new drug application for the diabetes drug canagliflozin to U.S. regulators. Item

> Forest Laboratories ($FRX) has paid $25 million to Nabriva to develop BC-3781, an experimental antibiotic for drug-resistant bugs such as MRSA, and has gained an option to buy the small company. Release

> Takeda's new R&D chief Tadataka "Tachi" Yamada, a veteran of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK), faces the difficult task of speeding the Japanese drugmaker's development of new blockbusters to replace sales of aging top-seller Actos. Article

> GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) has inked a partnership with the government of Canada to fund drug research in the country. Item

Pharma News

 @FiercePharma: PhRMA emails show behind-the-scenes dickering on industry's healthcare reform deal--WSJ. More | Follow @FiercePharma

> South Koreans eating up generic Viagra. Story

> Judge blocks run at Human Genome's 'poison pill' defense. More

> New AstraZeneca chairman looks for CEO. Article

> Takeda recruit refocuses marketing, R&D on emerging markets. More

Medical Devices News

 @MarkHFierce: Folks, there's still time to submit your nominations for the FierceMedicalDevices Fierce 15 private device developers. Survey | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @FierceMedDev: The House Ways and Means Committee voted to repeal the 2.3% device tax . Next: full House vote. More

> China's device industry boasts 13,000 home-grown companies. Story

> GI Dynamics and Gore headed to court in patent dispute. More

> Smith & Nephew stops sale of optional hip replacement metal part. News

> Medtronic teams with diabetes foundation on glucose monitors. Article

And Finally…  A gene discovery in poppy plants could boost yields of a compound for fighting coughs and cancer. Article