Cook Medical launches debuts manufacturing facility; GE Healthcare pushes diagnostics biz in South Korea;

 @FierceMedDev: A new Abbott-related study backs up kidney stenting to lower blood pressure in patients with severe hypertension. Release | Follow @FierceMedDev

 @MarkHFierce: Another day, another lawsuit filed over DePuy's ASR metal-on-metal hip implant. More | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: St. Jude is axing 300 employees and reorganizing its business units in a plan to save about $60M a year. More | Follow @DamianFierce

> Cook Medical opened its latest manufacturing facility, in Canton, IL, a $19 million production plant that will employ 60 people. News

> Cardiovate, a startup spun out of the University of Texas at San Antonio, is looking to market a stent graft the company says can prevent aneurysm leakage after heart surgery. Article

> A new project launches in Europe designed to develop a cost-effective diagnostic tool that works fast to diagnose pneumonia and other infections. Story

> MGC Diagnostics ($MGCD), formerly Angeion, boosted revenue to $6.9 million in its fiscal 2012 third quarter, up 8% from the same period last year, thanks in part to expanding international sales. Release

> GE Healthcare ($GE) is looking to expand its imaging and diagnostics presence in South Korea in response to the country's aging population. Story

> Bio-Rad ($BIO) launched a digital biology center to develop new diagnostics for inherited disorders, cancer and infectious disease. Release

> Tandem Diabetes Care has started shipping its t:slim insulin pump, a touch-screen device up to 25% slimmer than other 300-unit pumps. Item

> A new company is developing a disposable diaper sensor meant to alert nursing staff when a patient faces urinary incontinence. Story

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Johns Hopkins scientists produce protein that helps track tumors. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: Bellwether? IBA chief says plunge in bioassay sales in Europe reflects freeze in research activities. Report | Follow @JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: Matching brain scan data with psych drugs helps improve doctor's educated guessing in prescribing depression meds. Article | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Pfizer licenses out cancer candidate to biotech VLST. Item

> FDA scrutinizes efficacy of Novartis' cystic fibrosis drug. Story

> Achillion Pharma strikes deal to raise $41.8M as hep C results loom. News

> EU hits accelerator on Ariad's leukemia drug app. Article

> Report precedes stock jump for biotech Sarepta. More

Pharma News

 @FiercePharma: Judge won't let Pfizer rid itself of inherited fen-phen scourge. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

> The drug reign in Spain is leading to lots of pain. Article

> J&J to pay states $181M to resolve Risperdal cases. Report