@FierceMedDev: As advocates fight to repeal the device tax, we take a detailed look at how the 2.3% charge would work. Special Report | Follow @FierceMedDev
@MarkHFierce: Hansen Medical, maker of the Magellan Surgical Robot, raised $10M in a new offering. More | Follow @MarkHFierce
@DamianFierce: Roche Diagnostics broke ground on the first phase of its $300M Indianapolis expansion. News | Follow @DamianFierce
> Abiomed ($ABMD) plans to repurchase up to $15 million of its common stock and will finance the effort with available cash. Release
> Cardiac stent patients have better odds when surgeons use intravascular ultrasound devices to place them, according to a new study. Story
> Novation has agreed to carry Cook Medical's peripheral vascular devices and diagnostics products for more than 65,000 members served by the large healthcare supplier and contractor. Release
> Stockholders at Vermillion, a molecular diagnostics company, are questioning the severance package paid to CEO Gail Page even as she remains at the company 6 months after her announced departure. Story
> Stryker ($SYK) has hired David Floyd to run its orthopedics arm; The exec is a veteran of companies including Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) and Abbott ($ABT) and most recently was CEO of OrthoWorx. Release
> Groups including the American Hospital Association, the Premier healthcare alliance and two medical-device related groups are backing the FDA's plans for a unique device identifier, but differ on the execution. Story
> Arrayit Diagnostics has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering, as part of a previously announced plan to spin out the company from Arrayit Corp. Story
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: From FierceBiotechIT.com: PPD secures adaptive trials software as clinical studies evolve. More | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: After FDA rejection, Bristol-AstraZeneca team wins E.C. OK for diabetes drug dapagliflozin--new hope for SGLT2 drugs. News | Follow @JohnCFierce
@RyanMFierce: 10 trends in diagnostics from FierceBiotech. #1: Companion Dx. Special Report | Follow @RyanMFierce
> Sanofi's new CSO to steer R&D reinvention drive from Cambridge, MA office. Report
> Troubled Tranzyme reports another key clinical trial failure. News
> Upstart Valor launches with plans to develop armed antibody cancer drugs. Article
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: Slovenia's Krka expects 2012 profits to fall short, but sees 6% sales hike in 2013; plans hiring, new plants. Article | Follow @FiercePharma
> Merck KGaA sees job cuts, price hikes pay off in Q3. Story
> Buyout talk swirls around Amarin, with AZ and Teva rumored buyers. Report
Pharma Manufacturing News
> Call for counterfeit drug treaty gets group banned from WHO event. Article
> Regeneron invests $80 million in plant, office project. News
> Promega expands with new China plant. Item
> Genzyme manufacturing upgrades again paying off. Story
Vaccines News
@AlisonBFierce: Inovio Pharmaceuticals, a developer of synthetic vaccines, expanded its existing license agreement with UPenn. More | Follow @AlisonBFierce
> FDA: Dynavax's Heplisav effective against hepatitis B. Report
> Meningitis vaccine ruled safe for warm storage. Article
> Takeda sets sights on the vaccine market. More
> GSK's rotavirus vaccine selected for British program. News
> GSK reports lackluster PhIII malaria vaccine data. Story
And Finally... The battle against the medical device tax continues, this time with an industry-written opinion piece in Politico. Item