Devicemakers urge Senate to repeal 2.3% tax; GlySure raises $13.6M for glucose monitors;

 @FierceMedDev: If you haven't, check out the top Dx sellers for 2012. Many are already outpacing 2011 annual sales as of Q3. Special Report | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: Considering how big catheter ablation is becoming, when will a big suitor try to snatch up Endosense? More | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: In the wake of J&J's $21B deal for Synthes, medical device and diagnostics M&A was a little quieter in 2012. Special Report | Follow @DamianFierce

> About 800 companies and organizations signed a letter imploring the U.S. Senate to repeal the 2.3% medical device tax before it takes effect Jan. 1. Letter (PDF)

> The U.K.'s GlySure has raised the second half of a $13.6 million Series C round. The maker of continuous blood glucose monitoring systems will use the cash to finish clinical trials in advance of U.S. and European regulatory submissions. Release

> Massachusetts' Merrimack Valley is trying to accelerate the region's growth as a medical device industry cluster. Story

> BioVentrix, a California device startup, is hoping to raise $4 million. The company is developing a device to treat patients with congestive heart failure, MedCity News reports. Story

> The University of Wisconsin is licensing its radiation dose-reduction technology to GE Healthcare ($GE) for use in CT scans. Item

> Cadence, a contract manufacturer for medical devices, is expanding to launch a 21,000-square-foot facility near Pittsburgh. More

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: From FierceBiomarkers.com: Researchers find genetic biomarker for newborn respiratory distress. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: Sanofi jumps on board Selecta's immunotherapy platform with $900M discovery deal. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: A Dutch group's study suggests pharma's reliance on CROs to do studies in dev. world could leave patients at risk. More | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Roche, Broad band together to bring failed drugs back from the dead. News

> Curis snags $30M loan, grabs early-stage cancer drug from Genentech. Story

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Growing price gap between branded drugs, generics = more incentive for payers to push the cheaper copies. More | Follow @FiercePharma

> Pharma fights European austerity with product pullbacks. Report

> GSK, J&J earn top marks for boosting access to meds for poor. News

Biomarkers News

> Finding gene biomarkers could help diagnosis of rare and lethal cancer. Item

> Researchers find genetic marker for newborn respiratory distress. Article

> Biomarker helps brain cancer snack on sugar. Story

> Biomarkers could change the course of Chagas disease treatment. More

> Gene predicts resistance to Pfizer's Xalkori. Report

Drug Delivery News

> Clinical results for Intellipharmaceutics' CR pregabalin. News

> CeQur's insulin pump approved for European market. Article

> Applications expand for Rhenovia's transdermal RHEpatch. Story