Yervoy delivers big survival benefit to patients; Nektar nabs $25M milestone from AstraZeneca;

@FierceBiotech: AstraZeneca CEO celebrates 1st anniversary with promising lung cancer data. More | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Pfizer nabs autoimmune disease drug rights for $25M upfront. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Few are optimistic about a last-minute budget deal. Here's what happens at the FDA after a shutdown: Article | Follow @DamianFierce

> When it launched in March 2011, Bristol-Myers' ($BMY) Yervoy became the only drug ever to extend survival in patients with advanced forms of melanoma. Now, new data show just how long the breakthrough drug can extend that survival: A few patients using Yervoy could tack on as much as a decade to their lives, according to a long-term study. And more than a few could see a few extra years. Story

> The EMA has accepted AstraZeneca's ($AZN) application for naloxegol, triggering a $25 million milestone payday for Nektar Therapeutics. A nod from the FDA next would be worth another $70 million. Report

> Ariad Pharmaceuticals ($ARIA) presented updated Phase I/II data on its TKI drug AR26113 for non-small cell lung cancer. Release

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Trending on our website (still): If reps can't get in doctors' front doors, try alternate routes. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: U.K. tosses lean, but important bone to with expected extension of cancer drug fund. ICYMI Friday | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: Bristol-Myers melanoma drug Yervoy helps patients live years longer, study finds. Story  | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Germany's Bayer taps Pfizer's Olivier Brandicourt to head Bayer HealthCare. News

> Look out, pharma marketers. Obamacare will change your lives. More

> Roche CEO: 'Extremely' open to talk with Novartis about teaming up. Article

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: KKR made it official, grabbing an 80% stake of Panasonic's healthcare arm for $1.67B - much higher than predicted. ICYMI Friday | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: ICYMI: Medtronic lands U.S. approval of early-generation artificial pancreas. Story from FierceDrugDelivery | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> Intersect plugs positive drug-eluting sinus implant data. Item

> Life Tech to peddle Advanced Cell Diagnostics' RNA biomarker tech around the world. More

> KCI absorbs two acquisitions into wound care mega-company. Article

CRO News

> Quintiles jumps into personalized medicine for cancer trials. More

> Merged at last, PRA and RPS say they're fourth-largest CRO. Report

> InVentiv launches doc network for late-stage trials. Story

> JSS snaps up Latin American CRO. Article

> Parexel launches China-focused service as local demand heats up. News

Biotech IT News

> FDA taking hands-off approach to regulation of most apps. More

> Genohub talks up 'Kayak' for NGS services. Report

> NIH calls for comments on draft genomics data sharing policy. Story

> Business behind Google Earth for the human body raises $4M. Item

> Pfizer to give patients access to their trial data. Article

And Finally... Want to help protect your children from allergies and hypersensitivities? Raise them on a farm. Release