LabCorp rolls out its own BRCA diagnostic tests; Sony files 'SmartWig' patent;

@FierceMedDev: Report: Insurers could gain up to $1B in J&J hip settlement deal. Item | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: LabCorp has become the latest to roll out new BRCA tests - wondering when Myriad will sue them, too. Release | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: ICYMI: Study: Natural nanomaterials could support biodegradable drug delivery. Story | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@GalenMoore: Infectious-disease biotech Visterra has raised $8.1M and licensed dengue-fever IP from its co-founder's lab at MIT. More | Follow @GalenMoore

> Sony ($SNE) is seeking a U.S. patent for "SmartWig" hairpieces that could, in part, check blood pressure. Story

> A special type of magnetic resonance imaging shows long-term brain differences in soldiers who suffered mild traumatic brain injury from mortar fire or other explosives. Item

> LabCorp ($LH) is rolling out a number of new BRCA diagnostic tests designed to spot patients at risk for breast, ovarian and other cancers. Item

> Biodesix, a molecular diagnostics outfit, raised a $8.3 million Series E preferred equity financing to help boost development, sales and marketing for VeriStrat, a serum protein test that guides therapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Item

> Japan's Sumitomo Heavy Industries said it has obtained the FDA's 510(k) clearance for its proton therapy system, with 12 facilities already operational in the U.S. Item

> Fujifilm won 510(k) clearance for its new Gadolinium and Cesium digital X-ray detectors for pediatric use. Item

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: PharmAthene scraps Theraclone merger after feds nix funding. More | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Forest Labs takes aim at R&D in $500M cost-cutting blitz. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Aptuit poached a former $ICLR VP to serve as next CEO. Story | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: Novartis announced on Thanksgiving that its scientists have discovered a new malaria target. Release | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Visterra hires AMAG, Concert vets, licenses dengue antibody from MIT. Story

> FDA delays Biogen's application on hemophilia B therapy. Item

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Irish plant shutdown puts another Merck site on the block. Story from FiercePharmaManufacturing | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Analysts predicted Forest would do something to cut costs. Here it is. Release | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: This disease database digitization project is named for Tycho Brahe, Prague's imperial astronomer in the late 1500s. Story | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> KKR bets $200M on India's Gland Pharma. News

> Glaxo CEO Witty visits China in wake of bribery charges. Story

> Japan's Takeda looks to outsider as it reaches for international status. More

Biotech IT News

> Computational biology startup joins Merck KGaA's incubator. More

> Digitization work turns 125 years of disease reports into Big Data goldmine. News

> Pfizer: 'Bring your own device' is coming to clinical trials. Story

> Academics dig into EMRs to discover genetic causes of disease. Article

> Report suggests biopharma wise to outsource cybersecurity. Piece

> Sony files patent for wearable computing 'SmartWig'. Item

CRO News

> Analyst: Pharma R&D cuts won't hamper big CROs. Story

> Almac banks $9M in diagnostics deal with Genomic Health. More

> CRO SillaJen eyes $150M deal for ex-sponsor. News

> Evoke picks SynteractHCR to helm PhIII for diabetes drug. Piece

> Aptuit snags ex-Icon exec to serve as CEO. Article

> Parexel: Strategic partnerships are the future. Item