Medtronic's Itamar seeks partners, U.S. listing; Check-Cap to raise $27M;

@FierceMedDev: HTG Molecular Diagnostics mulls $60M IPO for next-gen profiling technology. FierceDiagnostics story | Follow @FierceMedDev

@EmilyWFierce: Aethlon Medical snagged FDA approval for clinical trial of bio-filtration device to treat Ebola. Release | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Bloomberg reports that sleep apnea and heart diagnostics company Itamar Medical is seeking partners and may list in the U.S. The company is already partnered with and backed by Medtronic ($MDT), which is its largest shareholder. Report

> Check-Cap hopes to raise $27 million in an IPO and a private placement. The Israeli-backed company has an ingestible low-dose x-ray capsule used for colon cancer screening. Story

> Stryker ($SYK) has acquired the assets of privately held CHG Hospital Beds, which sells low-height hospital beds and accessories, for an undisclosed amount. Release

> Symmetry Surgical has partnered with neoSurgical to distribute its neoClose Trocar Port Closure System in the U.S. Release

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Aduro bags $51M for its 'breakthrough' cancer combo. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Big round of deals today augurs well for new partnerships/ M&A in 2015. #JPM15 will be abuzz with deal talk (not unusual). #biotech | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: $AMGN buys into CAR-T with $KITE partnership. Release | Follow @DamianFierce

> Pfizer continues deal spree with Redvax CMV vaccine buyout. Report

> Novartis rolls toward FDA nod with a copy of Amgen's Neupogen. Article

> Bristol-Myers to collaborate with Calibr on fibrosis drugs. Item

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Pfizer's growth spurt continues with pickup of Switzerland's Redvax. FierceVaccines Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@CarlyHFierce: Indivior CEO looks beyond 2015 after troubled Reckitt pharma unit's spinoff. Story | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Move over, Big Pharma: Smaller biopharma's execs are bringing home more bacon. Article

> Pfizer pads growing vaccines unit with CMV pickup. Item

> Merck poised for early Keytruda launch in lung cancer, analyst says. Article

Biotech IT News

> Scripps director: Validation needed to unlock the potential of wearables. Item

> NHS England picks 100,000 Genomes Project sites ahead of February start date. Article

> Analytics and Big Data investments spur bumper year for digital health funding. Story

> FDA outlines industry-focused ambitions as Mini-Sentinel graduates. More

> Roche buys Bina to add informatics piece to its genomics resurgence. News

CRO News

> Evotec teams up with Ohio State on a new cancer drug. Story

> WuXi goes mobile with a chemistry app. News

> GVK feels the sting after data scandal. More

> Covance could face fines over animal deaths. Story

> PPD bets on Japan with new joint venture. Article

Animal Health News

> Lilly closes Novartis deal, creating second-largest animal health giant. News

> FDA trusts vets to curb antibiotic use, but are ties to drug companies too tight? More

> High debt, low starting salaries plague new veterinarians. Item

> Colorado State nabs record $42.5M gift for translational research institute. Story

> Putney CEO Hoffman sets sights high for 'largest pipeline' in animal health. Article