TauRx launches late-stage Alzheimer's studies; BioCryst scraps hep C study after FDA pushes back on safety; Seattle Genetics wins $25M milestone;

 @FierceBiotech: Ipsen braces for $153M write-off as troubled biotech partner declares bankruptcy. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: Biocon (India) scouts R&D pact after GE unit grabs stake in research division. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: Biotech's boneyard: 2012 report on the dead, dying, disabled (and some reborn) biotech operations. Happy Halloween! Special Report | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Singapore-based TauRx has grabbed headlines with its launch of a pair of late-stage studies for a new Alzheimer's therapy. Diverging from the common beta amyloid approach, TauRx is looking to block tau, a protein that triggers tangles inside of brain cells found in Alzheimer's patients. Story

> BioCryst's ($BCRX) plans to build an ambitious hep C effort have run into some serious trouble. The biotech says it scrapped plans for an early-stage study of BCX5191 after the FDA concluded that it presented a toxicity threat to patients. It's a nucleoside program and the latest drug to fall victim to the agency's safety alarms after Bristol-Myers Squibb's ($BMY) nuc--BMS-094--was tanked after one patient died and others were injured in a study. Release

> Looking to expand its presence in the hot Chinese drug discovery and development industry, Charles River Laboratories purchased a majority interest in Vital River for $27 million. Report

> The European Commission has given Millennium a green light for Adcetris, which triggers a $25 million milestone for Seattle Genetics ($SGEN). Release

> EnVivo Pharmaceuticals has published additional positive data from its Phase IIb study of the Alzheimer's drug EVP-6124. Release

> TransTech Pharma says that it reaped positive data from a Phase IIb study of an experimental Alzheimer's drug. Report

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: Boston Sci snagged EU approval for its new stent with bioabsorbable coating. News | Follow @FierceMedDev

 @MarkHFierce: Fidelity is investing $75M into Trivitron Healthcare, an Indian company focused on imaging and lab Dx. Release | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: The latest Cleveland Clinic top 10 innovations list includes some novel medical devices. Article | Follow @DamianFierce

> GI Dynamics moves toward FDA approval for weight-loss tech. Story

> OptiScan, maker of glucose monitoring devices, raises $2.6M. Item

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: BMJ says no more clinical trial publications if actual data isn't open for outside review. More | Follow @FiercePharma

> Novo hikes forecast on 62% jump in Victoza sales. News

> BMJ editor flogs Roche for Tamiflu data secrecy. Story

> Novartis building new plant as pipeline fills with biologics. Article

Drug Delivery News

> Twice-yearly opioid dependence implant steps closer to the market. Item

> Ocular Therapeutix eyes up positive results for OTX-TP2. Article

> Starpharma technology delivers 40-fold more docetaxel to tumor. Report

> Paclitaxel particles extend life threefold in mouse bladder cancer. News

Biomarkers News

> Seeing is believing: Biomarkers visible to the naked eye. Item

> Blood biomarker tags NeuVax's role in breast cancer treatment. Article

> Marking glimpses of activity for Lilly's Alzheimer drug after PhIII struggles. Report

> U.K. researchers spot new marker for prostate cancer prognosis. News

> Chromosome cap length predicts pancreatic cancer risk. Story

And Finally… A new study says that a regular diet of fish can reduce the risk of stroke, but don't look for the same response by taking fish oil supplements. Release