Asahi Kasei wraps $2.2B Zoll buy; Forus Health grabs $5M in Series A funds;

  @FierceMedDev: Pressure mounts to speed approval of medical devices. Report | Follow @FierceMedDev

> Japan's Asahi Kasei has completed its $2.2 billion acquisition of ZOLL Medical. Release

> Forus Health, a Bangalore-based developer of technology to help screen for eye problems, raised $5 million in Series A funding. Release

> Luminex has received CE mark approval of the xMAP NeoPlex4 assay and NeoPlex system for newborn screening. It provides four assays from one blood spot punch, reducing sample requirements and improving laboratory efficiency. Luminex release

> GI Dynamics says it has generated new clinical data showing that it is both feasible and safe to re-implant its EndoBarrier device to treat Type 2 diabetes and/or obesity. Release

> Submit your business plan ideas now for the ninth-annual Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit and Business Plan Competition, set for Santa Clara University on June 20. Organizers are seeking ideas in areas including medical devices and gerontology. Release

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Check out this report on the pulse of biotech IT in Boston by @RyanMFierce Report | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: The Spanish crisis getting worse, Italian economy shrinking, U.K. back in recession. U.S. econ slows. Interesting times. Article | Follow @JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: Novo Nordisk plans to grow its U.S. workforce 15% in 2012. Nice change from usual drumbeat of pharma layoffs. Release | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Novo Nordisk hiring R&D, other workers in U.S. recruitment blitz. Article

> FDA stamps approval on GSK cancer drug Votrient. News

> Astellas, biotech VCs to pump $14M into virtual drug developer. Story

> Jazz Pharma snaps up Eusa in $700M buyout deal. Article

Pharma News

 @FiercePharma:  Drama at J&J annual meeting: One investor hopes new CEO will "lead us back" to being happy when $JNJ's in the news--AP. Article | Follow @FiercePharma

> Amgen gets a no from the FDA on extended use of Xgeva. Article

> Bristol-Myers Squibb confirms it's a target of bribery probe. News

> Jazz Pharmaceuticals announces another deal. Story

> Boosted by Januvia, Merck bests expectations by a penny. Report

And Finally... The humble homing pigeon can perform its duties and find faraway places because of nerve cells in its brain stems that react to magnetic sensors that may be located elsewhere around its head, according to a study. News