Dx giant Alere achieves massive revenue bump; Abbot's Absorb stent carries high expectations;

@FierceMedDev: Report: ICU weighing billion-dollar sale. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: Medtronic may have made waves with its renal denervation device, but buyers aren't widespread yet. More | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: Vermillion is raising $31.5M in equity to market its ovarian cancer diagnostic. Story | Follow @DamianFierce

> Diagnostics giant Alere ($ALR) hauled in $739.2 million in revenue last quarter, a 10.1% increase over the previous year, and net income reached $7.2 million, beating out a loss of $4.1 million in the same period in 2012. Results

> Cancer diagnostics company Nuclea Biotechnologies raised another $4.2 million, bringing its total haul to $40.3 million. Article

> Researchers at UC San Diego believe the complex bony plates in sea horse tails could inspire more durable medical devices. Story

> CardioDx, a 2012 Fierce 15 winner, received accreditation from the College of American Pathologists for its onsite clinical laboratory, adding onto its CLIA and CMS certifications. News

> Investigators have high hopes for Abbott Laboratories' ($ABT) Absorb stent, a fully dissolvable vascular scaffold current undergoing a U.S. trial. Report

> Hologic ($HOLX) named Scott T. Garrett to its newly expanded board of directors. He's an operating partner with Water Street Healthcare Partners, a private equity firm. Item

> Arcos won FDA clearance for a new device designed to help treat severely burned patients. Story

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Industry Voices: Genomics, Biotechnology's Oldest Next Big Thing by Elizabeth Silverman. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Cowen's Simos Simeonidis sees a stockholder revolt brewing at $VVUS. Numbers are incredibly ugly and execs have no idea what they are doing. | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: Receptos made it through the gauntlet to complete $73M IPO, priced at low end of $14-$16 proposed range. Item | Follow @RyanMFierce

> FDA's Hamburg touts rising approval record and promises swifter interaction. Story

> Global CRO Quintiles rakes in $947M as its hot IPO sells at top range. News

> Trevena lands $430M Forest deal, $60M venture round as heart drug heads to PhIIb. Article

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Behold the patent cliff: U.S. drug market shrinks for first time. Report | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Rapidly growing Sagent takes control of FDA approved China plant that is ready to produce products. More | Follow @EricPFierce

> Dendreon's Provenge sales disappoint once again with 17% decline. News

> GlaxoSmithKline, Merck offer GAVI 95% discount on HPV vaccines. Article

> Merck rep seeks $100M in sex-discrimination suit. Item

Vaccines News

> CDC continues to build defenses in H7N9 lull. More

> GSK, Merck agree on HPV vax discount with GAVI. Article

> Heroin vaccine keeps rats clean. Item

> Sanofi sees Shantha Biotech's Shan5 back in 2014. Report

> Takeda takes on Sanofi with $250M dengue buyout. More

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Pediatric drug shortages draw Congressional attention. News

> Hamburg faces Senate as new compounding regulations progress. Story

> Proposed law would delay unit drug tracking for 15 years. More

> Ranbaxy sees tough quarter as it recovers from manufacturing mess. Article