LDR gains expanded approval for spinal implant device; Chip mimics human capillaries;

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@DamianFierce: J&J is switching up its Chinese leadership as local authorities eye drug and device firms. News | Follow @DamianFierce

@MarkHFierce: The sleep apnea device industry is poised to get an infusion of a number of new treatments. ICYMI yesterday | Follow @MarkHFierce

> It's been quite a month for LDR: The company won FDA approval for its Mobi-C spinal implant and filed for a $69 million IPO, and now it has picked up another agency approval that expands the indications for the same device. News

> Medtronic's ($MDT) recent push into patient monitoring and disease management points to a difficult future for the world's traditional device companies, according to an analyst. News

> University of Washington scientists say they have crafted a device that allows for the first-ever human-to-human mind meld. Article

> Researchers at Lehigh University have developed a chip they say can mimic human capillaries and predict how cancer drugs will affect specific patients. Story

> Sphere Medical says it has made progress toward filing a CE mark for its new blood monitoring device. Item

> Allied Healthcare won a CE mark for its new regenerative tissue repair product to repair and reconstruct heart defects. Story

> ECRI is launching a faster iteration of its online notification system in order to help hospitals respond to medical product recalls faster. Story

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: ICYMI from FierceCRO: PPD snags Acurian for recruitment software. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: No Teva deal for Rexahn. Press release | Follow @JohnCFierce

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> Onyx spells out layoff policies as staffers brace for post-buyout cuts. More

> Cramer vs. Cramer: What's the next big biotech takeover target? News

> Gilead's sofosbuvir cures some of the toughest hepatitis C cases. Article

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: China arrests British consultant and wife for trafficking in private information. Pharma probe churns on… Yesterday's story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Swiss CMO Siegfried building a manufacturing plant in China. ICYMI from FiercePharmaManufacturing | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: ICYMI yesterday: Eye-drug specialist Akorn buys rival Hi-Tech for $640M. Article | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Onyx staffers to get word on layoffs 30 days after Amgen deal wraps. Story

> Simcere going private thanks to $495M buyout by chairman. Report

> Endo's Qualitest unit snags niche generics player for $225M. News

> J&J rejigs Chinese ops to centralize under local chairman. Article

Drug Delivery News

@MichaelGFierce: Ceptaris nets first-ever FDA approval for topical lymphoma chemo gel. Article | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> Chip lined with human cells tests cancer drug delivery with minimal cost. Story

> Singapore team makes 'nanocages' for protein drug delivery. Article

> Lipidor, Karolinska post sound PhI/IIa results for novel spray-on psoriasis drug. News

> Nano-gold's penetrating methods revealed in MIT, Swedish study. More

> FDA clears Novo Nordisk's insulin injection pen for children. Item

Diagnostics News

> U Texas group finds ovarian cancer Dx works better over time. More

> Harvard, Danish team develop new brain cancer MRI approach. Story

> Applied Proteomics mulls Alzheimer's companion Dx. Article

> Life Technologies loses exec to Dx startup. Item

> Exosome, Mount Sinai forge Dx development partnership. Report