Fogarty Institute adds new companies, graduates others; Boston Sci gets TAVI/R guidewire regulatory nods;

@FierceMedDev: Oxford Nanopore reels in $109M to ramp up R&D. FierceDiagnostics story | Follow @FierceMedDev

@StacyALawrence: iHealth expands its retail, connected medical device empire and looks to move into. Report | Follow @StacyALawrence

@VarunSaxena2: UPDATED: St. Jude to buy Thoratec for $3.4B, will pair its heart pump with the cardioMEMs patient monitor. Story | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@EmilyWFierce: Nonprofit snags $5.2M grant to investigate U.S. drug pricing. FiercePharma article | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Nature Reviews Cardiology has published an opinion piece calling for greater disclosure of clinical trial data for high-risk cardiovascular devices that go through a PMA process with the FDA. More

> Boston Scientific ($BSX) has gained a CE mark and FDA clearance for an enhanced version of the Safari Guidewire for use in transcatheter aortic valve implantation or replacement procedures (TAVI/R), the Safari Pre-Shaped Guidewire. More

> Metactive Medical has received a $224K Phase SBIR grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop its Blockstent Microcatheter to treat vascular occlusions. More

> The Fogarty Institute for Innovation has added a trio of early stage med tech companies focused on women's health: hot flash treatment player Igantia Therapeutics, mastectomy and burn recovery specialist Marz Medical as well as vaginal dryness and atrophy company Madorra. Two recent Fogarty grads, InterVene and Prescient Surgical, have garnered Series A financings. More

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: RaNA banks $55M to get its RNA drugs into the clinic. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Cara Therapeutics scores another positive PhII for lead opioid. More | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: The world is terrible. Article | Follow @DamianFierce

> Eli Lilly is expanding R&D ops in San Diego, adding 130 researchers. News

> Big Pharmas back Ra's $58.5M bet on a rival to Soliris. Story

> In Alzheimer's, hope, hype and disappointment as biopharma goes all-in on amyloid. Article

> Leery of new deals, Roche spotlights its late-stage pipeline standouts. Report

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: NIAID scientists one step closer to 'universal' flu vaccine. More | Follow @FiercePharma

@CarlyHFierce: Earnings season is better than Christmas. I mean, I actually like most things better than Christmas, but point still stands. | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Bristol-Myers smashes Q2 as hep C meds rake in overseas sales. Story

> Eli Lilly's Q2 beats the Street as newer products, animal health buy pitch in. Article

Vaccines News

> Pfizer talks up 'comprehensive' vaccines business. Report

> Health officials detail need for $2B vaccines fund. Item

> NIAID scientists one step closer to 'universal' flu vaccine. Article

> SutroVax bags $22M Series A to develop vaccines for infectious diseases. Story

> Sanofi's dengue vaccine anticipated on profitability 'high end.' More

CRO News

> Biocon might spin out its CRO after taking it public. More

> Huntingdon and Harlan raise up to $125M to fund their future together. News

> PRA doubles down on the hunt for new R&D talent. Report

> Covance and LabCorp open a new R&D center to pool their expertise. Story

> AMRI bets $174M on manufacturing with latest buyout. Article

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Sun may only get 3 of Ranbaxy's 4 banned plants ready for U.S. market. Item

> Capsugel expanding plant in Scotland. More

> Lupin gets first U.S. manufacturing base with buyout of GAVIS. Report

> Patheon, DPx unload chemical operations to tighten focus on pharma. Story

> Sandoz gives Novartis a boost, but 3 plants still get the boot. Article

Pharma Asia News

> From the pharma C-suite: Novartis on Asia, emerging markets in Q2. Item

> Lee family victory in Samsung shareholder challenge sets stage for biologics ramp up. Report

> India's drug and CRO manufacturing travails gather pace as New Delhi calls on diplomats to help. Article

> Industry groups lobby against Japan reimbursement price cuts. Story

> China state-owned drug firms move to direct consumer sales, prescriptions next? More