Device tax opponents vow to fight another day; EndoChoice nabs FDA clearance for GI tech;

@FierceMedDev: Abbott's MitraClip heart valve device gains FDA's long-awaited blessing. ICYMI Friday | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: GE healthcare is aiming for a 2014 launch for its new Alzheimer's imaging agent. More from FierceDiagnostics | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: A blog post from the FDA late last week highlighted the agency's efforts to regulate nanotechnology. Blog | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> Medical devicemakers, despite a setback during the government shutdown, are continuing their efforts to win a repeal of the 2.3% tax they must pay to help support the Affordable Care Act. Story

> Johnson & Johnson's ($JNJ) Ethicon division won FDA clearance for its Harmonic Ace surgical shears. News

> Somnetics International gained FDA clearance for an updated device used to treat sleep apnea. Item

> EndoChoice picked up the FDA's blessing to market its Fuse Gastroscope, a next-generation endoscope the company said provides an expanded view of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Release

> Becton Dickinson ($BDX) is launching a four-year initiative to help expand healthcare to underserved communities and populations in the U.S. Item

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: CytomX 'probody' kills pancreatic cancer cells, leaves healthy tissue intact. Story from FierceBiotech Research | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: UPDATED: FDA overrides Zohydro panel, approves pure hydrocodone pain med. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: ICYMI: Aerie prices $67M IPO and becomes 40th biotech to go public this year. Story | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: GMOs Versus Overuse Of Antibiotics: Which Is The Greater Evil? More from Forbes | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Bristol-Myers takes shot at Humira as arthritis drug aces Phase IIb. Story

> Bullish Actelion once again heats up as a possible takeover target. Item

> Bristol-Myers adds promising survival update on breakthrough cancer drug. Report

> Gilead sweeps FDA panel vote for pioneering hep C drug sofosbuvir. Article

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Still trending on our website (in a big way): Teva profile as No. 1 on our Top 10 Generics Makers list. Profile | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: What drugs are up for grabs by generic makers next year? Here's the FiercePharma list of 2014 patent losses. Report | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: Biogen's Tecfidera drives rosy Q3 results, higher forecast. More | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Suffering Dendreon puts itself on the block, Bloomberg says. Report

> Teva denies CEO weighing an exit over board's meddling. Story

> With Opsumit approved, analysts say Actelion primed for takeover. Article

CRO News

> InVentiv opens U.K. hub as EU demand climbs. More

> Dendreon picks CMO PharmaCell to make Provenge in Europe. Item

> Novum reaches into N. Dakota for clinical trials. Article

> SRI sets sights on CRO growth with Virginia expansion. Story

> Icon boosts outlook after 19% sales jump. Report

> CRO Atheris hooks up with Debiopharm for cancer R&D. More

Biotech IT News

> Medidata eyes Novartis' business after inking Alcon deal. More

> Broad Institute to offer sequencing services after receiving CLIA nod. Item

> VCs tap Amgen-acquired genomics database to power startup. Report

> Oxford Nanopore readying for user tests of handheld sequencing device. Story

> Amazon, Baylor and DNAnexus team up for huge sequencing project. Article