Baxter adds Boston Sci's Mahoney to board; Why Google Ventures passed on Theranos;

@FierceMedDev: Check out this year's Fierce 15: The new strategic med tech mania sets the stage for 2015's Fierce 15. Feature | Follow @FierceMedDev

@VarunSaxena2: Fierce 15 co. Shockwave Medical aims to deploy energy-delivering balloons in the peripheral and coronary arteries. More | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@EmilyWFierce: Discovery of the day: Former "Daria" director illustrated and directed $PFE's Zoloft sad blob commercials. More | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Boston Scientific ($BSX) President and CEO Michael Mahoney has joined the board of Baxter ($BAX). The move is part of previously announced plan to expand its board to 12 with addition of two new members to appease activist investor Third Point that was announced in September. More

> Google Ventures founder, President and CEO Bill Maris explains that the firm passed on investing in now-controversial Dx player Theranos after it had difficulties with using the service. Story

> Aussie-exchange listed Avita Medical has raised about A$10 million (US$7.2 million) in a follow-on offering to back its regenerative medicine treatments for wounds and skin defects. More

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Novartis inks a string of deals to widen its immuno-oncology arsenal. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: $AZN's lesinurad is a mess. Safety issues, efficacy ???. Another test for the 'new' FDA. I suspect it gets approved. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: $BIIB things I forgot to mention:U.S. royalties on $RHBBY's ocrelizumab are 13.5% to 24%--STX-100 not affected by fibrosis cuts. | Follow @DamianFierce

> Big Pharma backs $100M dementia R&D fund. Item

> Synta gets decimated after its lead cancer drug comes up short in Phase III. Story

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Michigan governor urges Perrigo shareholders to reject Mylan's offer. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@CarlyHFierce: Good news for Allergan: Men want to treat wrinkles. Bad? They're clueless about products. Story | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Teva mulls $7B stock offering to help fund Allergan generics buy. More

> Clinton urges FDA, FTC to take action against questionable pharma pricing. News

Biotech Research News

> King's College team IDs a gene target for Parkinson's. Report

> Georgetown researchers flag success of pilot Parkinson's drug study. More

> Gene therapy for brain protein boosts memory in aged mice. Article

> RIKEN mouse study sheds new light on depression. Item

> MicroRNA controls tissue-specific PTEN expression in brain cancer. Story

Vaccines News

> Sanofi, Gates Foundation and IDRI team up to improve vaccine development process. News

> Cancer vaccines field sees new player emerge with Gritstone's $102M Series A. More

> Inovio's MERS vaccine could hit PhI before year's end. Story

> CSL to buy back $723M of its shares. Item

> Genocea puts pneumococcal vaccine on back burner following PhII failure. Article

Pharma Marketing News

> Good news for Allergan: Men want to treat wrinkles. Bad? They're clueless about products. Story

> PCSK9 drugmakers go Big Data to ID more eligible patients. Report

> Relypsa, Sanofi marketing teams revved up and waiting for FDA nod on patiromer. Article

> AstraZeneca touts new Russian plant as boon for emerging markets sales. Item

> Angling for more reach with providers, Merck melds Univadis unit with Physicians Interactive. More