Blaze Bioscience snags $9M Series B for tumor illumination tech; Venture firm splits in two;

@FierceMedDev: Volcano green-lights a $200M share buyback under M&A pressure. News | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: Inogen joins a select group of med device companies that have filed IPO plans this year. Article | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: Check out FierceBiotech's Top Women in Biotech 2013. More | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@GalenMoore: Xlumena brings in hedge fund Third Point for a $25M Series C aimed at FDA approval. Story | Follow @GalenMoore

> Blaze Bioscience snagged $9 million in Series B financing for its Tumor Paint technology, a combination optide and fluorescent dye that helps illuminate cancer cells during surgery. Item

> AcelRx is aiming for a Sept. 2014 approval date for its handheld, automated, pre-programmed pain drug delivery system. Story

> A group with Burrill & Company, a San Francisco VC, has split off into a new venture firm called Biomark Capital. Story

> Medgenics' board chairman has purchased more than 20,000 shares of the company's common stock. Item

> German researchers took a step toward developing better hearing aids by building a computer model of acoustic coding in the inner ear and the neuronal information processing by the brain stem. Item

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Xencor Prices Initial Public Offering. Release | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Sanofi is touting U300 PhIII diabetes data. Important program for the co. Release (PDF) | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Kinda disappointed Celgene couldn't get more arcane clauses into this OncoMed deal. Story | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: Male contraceptive breakthrough: Australian, UK researchers collaborate on protein discovery. More | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Sanofi touts promising PhIII data on next-gen diabetes therapy as rivals circle. Story

> Angel investors ante up $9M to fuel Blaze's early-stage program for 'tumor paint'. Report

> Novo CEO claims 'strong' pipeline effort will boost sales. Item

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: FDA Grants Astellas Qualified Infectious Disease Product Designation for Isavuconazole. Release | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Takeda tries on outsider for CEO. Forest tees up cuts. GSK's Witty heads to China. Read it in FiercePharma. More | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: ICYMI in FierceBiomarkers: Protein C4d linked to higher mortality rates in lung cancer patients. Story | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Pfizer keeps piling onto consumer health business. Story

> Sources: Bayer, others kicking tires on Novartis animal health business. Article

> Novo expects to keep pumping out growth in insulin market. More

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Irish plant shutdown move puts another Merck site on the block. More

> Wockhardt braces for lost sales after FDA bans its main plant. Story

> Gland Pharma targets U.S. injectables sector after securing $200M. Article

> India drops plans to limit foreign ownership of production capacity. News

> FDA outlines plans for new compounding pharmacy powers. Report

> Hedge fund ups the ante in game of chicken with McKesson. Item

Biotech Research News

> NIH announces $100M for new HIV research initiative. Story

> Key hep C protein revealed, paving the way for new vaccines. News

> Novartis team IDs new malaria target. Article

> NIH publishes first Alzheimer's genomics data for researchers. Report

> Male contraceptive breakthrough: Australian, UK researchers collaborate on protein discovery. More

> Study: Standardization needed for drug screening studies. Item