Endo Tools raises $3.3M; Direct Flow launches TAVI trial;

@FierceMedDev: Intuitive's surgical robots slammed in another study. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev

@DamianFierce: Another FDA roadblock for Guided Therapeutics and its cervical scanner. Article | Follow @DamianFierce

@MarkHFierce: NanoString is ramping up the U.S. commercial launch for its breast cancer prognostic Dx. Item | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: CeQur closes $27M round to fund insulin delivery device. More from FierceDrugDelivery | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> Endo Tools Therapeutics, a Belgian maker of obesity-treating devices, has hauled in $3.3 million to develop its technology. More

> First time premarket approvals for med tech companies are down 47% since 2012, and M&A activity is also on the decline for the broader industry, EvaluateMedTech concludes in a new report. Item

> Louisiana's Moirai Orthopaedics gained a CE mark for its new pyrocarbon implant knee replacement system, and the initial launch will take place in Australia and England. Item

> Germany's Activaero has forged a research collaboration deal with Italy's Chiesi Farmaceutici to jointly evaluate a drug/device combination product using Activaero's inhalation technology to develop a cystic fibrosis treatment. Item

> Breast imaging outfit Delphinus Medical has locked down a $6 million term loan from GE Capital to get its SoftVue tomography system to market. News

> InspireMD, a maker of embolic protection stents, has cut back on its Israeli manufacturing and hired a European distribution company. Story

> California's Direct Flow Medical has enrolled the first patient in its U.S. SALUS clinical trial, which will study the company's transcatheter aortic heart valve system. Item

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Merck R&D chief spotlights streamlining, biologics and the new risk strategy. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: You can add real estate to AstraZeneca's (long) list of bad investments. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

@Ry_McBride: Busy Biogen Idec fuels Amicus in Parkinson's drug chase. More | Follow @Ry_McBride

> Remicade knockoff delivers pioneering antibody biosimilar OK for Hospira, Celltrion. Story

> Roche's cancer immunotherapy quest spurs $422.5M Inovio combo deal. Article

> Neurocrine shares damaged by low-dose drug pratfall in PhIIb. Story

> Cold Spring Harbor Lab names Teri Willey as new BD chief. Item

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Italy's Recordati set to buy Spain's Laboratorios Casen Fleet for $122.4M. More | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: J&J recalls infant Motrin after API found to have tiny plastic bubbles. Story | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: New FDA guidance on generics for combo inhaled drugs is bad news for GSK/Advair. Article | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Forest Labs taps ex-Bausch + Lomb chief to replace Solomon as CEO. More

> New FDA guidance threatens GlaxoSmithKline's Advair. Article

Biotech Research News

@EmilyMFierce: Drug combo could treat deadly coronavirus. More | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Immune cell discovery could help fight diabetes, arthritis, MS. Story

> Amicus, Biogen Idec form Parkinson's drug development pact. News

> Potential Parkinson's-fighting compounds identified. Article

> Compound restores learning deficits in Down syndrome mice. More

> Advaxis treatment stops HPV tumor growth, extends survival in animals. Item

Pharma Manufacturing News

> India's economic meltdown pushes Biocon to build elsewhere. Story

> Piramal investing $11M in U.K. plant. News

> Burglar admits heists at Lilly, Glaxo warehouses. Report

> Altaire recalls moldy eye solution made for Walmart, CVS, Target. More

> Banner manufacturing powers Patheon growth. Article

> J&J's troubled McNeil unit recalls more products. Report