Biomimedica closes $11.9M Series B round; Are Massachusetts medical device jobs declining?;

 @FierceMedDev: We have extended the nomination deadline for the 15 fiercest medical device developers to July 13. Spread the word. Survey | Follow @FierceMedDev

> Biomimedica has closed its $11.9M Series B round. The company is developing synthetic cartilage replacement implants. Release

> Wright Medical Group ($WMGI) is launching a patient outreach program to increase awareness of hammertoe treatment options. The company makes a hammertoe implant. Release

> The FDA has issued draft guidance designed to lower the risk category for blood access devices used in hemodialysis. Story

> Aeris Therapeutics says a recent clinical trial has shown that its AeriSeal system helped improve lung function for advanced emphysema patients for up to one year following treatment. Release

> While the recent Battelle/BIO State Bioscience Industry development report showed that life sciences jobs have grown in the U.S. overall, medical device jobs in Massachusetts--one of the main industry clusters in the country--appear to have dipped. Story

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Check out the Fierce team's BIO 2012 convention slideshow featuring the faces of biotech leaders. More | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: Benefits of scientific understanding exceed fears of Crichton-style weaponized bird flu fears. More | Follow @JohnCFierce

> Guarding Humira treasure, Abbott mounts a challenge to biosimilars. Story

> Scientists demonstrate how bird flu could trigger a pandemic. Article

> FDA tracks rising impact of the 'placebo effect' in antipsychotic trials. Story

Pharma News

 @FiercePharma: If the Supreme Court of the United States doesn't strike down biosimilars with the rest of health reform, Abbott aims to stop them. More | Follow @FiercePharma

> Roche overlooks 80,000 adverse reaction complaints. Story

> FDA delivers Xarelto bad news to J&J, Bayer. News

> Abbott stands alone in challenge to biosimilars law. Article

And Finally... A New England Journal of Medicine "perspective" article charges the FDA with ordering a flawed post-marketing studies initiative for metal-on-metal hip implants, arguing that the new studies have been slow to start and are hampered by methodology issues. Story