Medtronic & Aetna will ally on heart failure data assessment; Boston Scientific nudges higher on S&P 500;

@FierceMedDev: Foundation Medicine ended its first (partial) year as a public company revenue still heading higher. Release | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: In the (marathon) battle to overturn the device tax, word from a pediatric device company CEO might help. More | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: FDA panel moves to ease iontophoresis delivery regulations to reflect modern advances. News | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@EmilyWFierce: Seno Medical Instruments raises $39M in a critical funding round for breast cancer dx device. More | Follow @EmilyWFierce

@GalenMoore: FDA may have gone too far, reading personal emails of medtech approval whistleblowers. Story | Follow @GalenMoore

> Medtronic ($MDT) and health insurance giant Aetna ($AET) will collaborate on using device data to assess congestive heart failure patients. Story

> Boston Scientific ($BSX) is now the 234th largest company on the S&P 500 in terms of market capitalization, and replaces Vornado Realty Trust ($VNO) in that slot, according to reports. Story

> Texas Medical Center is trying to lure a branch of Johnson & Johnson's ($JNJ) Janssen Labs to the Houston facility. Story

> Draper Laboratory scientists have come up with a new miniaturized wearable device that potentially delivers drugs to the inner ear to treat noise-induced hearing loss. Story

> Massachusetts startup Respiratory Motion said it has raised $5.8 million of what will eventually become an $8.8 million Series B preferred financing round. The money will back sales and marketing of the company's ExSpiron system, which is designed to help clinicians predict and possibly prevent post-operative respiratory depression. Item

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Novartis takes the transparency 'pledge,' but is it too little, too late? More | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Are Lily and J&J on the short list? Mystery U.S. pharma company circles Andromeda and its PhIII diabetes drug. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: With a reported $330M+ on the way, Abingworth is the latest biotech VC amassing a new fund. News | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: Trending at FierceBiotechResearch.com --> Scientist: Let's not discredit acid-bath stem cell studies--yet. More | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Anika pops after the FDA finally approves its arthritis jab. Article

> Northwest Bio shoots for dendritic success where others have failed. Story

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: GSK's new respiratory launches will give its revamped sales model a workout - FP. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@TracyStaton: ICYMI: Thumbs up or down on megamergers? Depends on your point of view. More | Follow @TracyStaton

@EricPFierce: No sooner does Commish Hamburg return from India than the FDA reveals a new warning letter about data faking there. News | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: Yesterday's best-read on FP: Activists urge FDA to slap black-box warnings on lucrative testosterone boosters. Article | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Pharma fights back against proposed changes to Medicare drug spending. Piece

> Boehringer Ingelheim withheld Pradaxa data from FDA, lawsuit files show. News

> Pharma shelled out $3.75B in fraud penalties in record-setting year, feds say. Story

Diagnostics News

> Daktari Diagnostics is raising up to $30M to support its Africa HIV test launch. Story

> Loyola team zeros in on an early-stage heart attack biomarker. Research

> Diagnostic Biochips is pursuing angel funding for a microchip brain implant. News

> A massive review reaffirms fecal test's place in colon cancer Dx. Article

> Tumor DNA can serve as noninvasive biomarker to stage and help treat cancer. Article

> Ezose Sciences will explore glycans as a possible Parkinson's biomarker. Brief

Drug Delivery News

> Clustered nanoparticles deliver chemo to fight drug-resistant ovarian cancer. News

> Inner-ear delivery device sends drugs out, draws fluid in. More

> FDA panel moves to ease iontophoresis delivery regulations to reflect modern advances. Story

> Teva snags an EU recommendation for its asthma, COPD inhaler. Article

> Single microparticle holds 3 different drugs for a cancer 1-2-3 punch. Piece

> Nanoparticles deliver chemotherapy when hit with a targeted light. Item

Pharma Marketing News

> Lilly's dulaglutide matches Victoza in study, but the real loser is AstraZeneca's Bydureon. Analysis

> Endo's off-label Lidoderm mantra, whistleblower says: 'Put the patch where the pain is.' Story

> GSK's new respiratory launches will give its revamped sales model a workout. News

> Even for busy doctors, 'nothing is as good as a rep' for getting pharma info. Article

> Amarin's future dims further as FDA nixes 5-year Vascepa exclusivity. Story

> Eisai's revved-up Belviq marketing starting to pay off, analysts say. Story

> Thrombogenics is 'exploring options' to jump-start Jetrea sales. Marketing partner, perhaps? Brief