@FierceMedDev: ICYMI: Qiagen exceeds 2014 placement goals for molecular Dx, hedges its bets on continued success. FierceDiagnostics story | Follow @FierceMedDev
@StacyALawrence: ICYMI: PureTech bumps its early life science funds up to $107M. Article | Follow @StacyALawrence
@EmilyWFierce: Roche shells out $1B plus milestones for a majority share in Foundation Medicine. Release | Follow @EmilyWFierce
> Medtronic's ($MDT) shareholder vote on its looming merger with Covidien ($COV) passed by an overwhelming vote of 75% yes, to 25% no. In addition, an SEC filing reveals that the plan to cover $63 million in taxes owed by top executives and directors also passed overwhelmingly, with 72.5% of shareholders in favor. Story
> Fitness trackers are off the mark by 10% to 15% compared to laboratory measurement of activity, according to an Iowa State University study. Story
> A study found that wearing compression stockings at night can improve sleep apnea. Story
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: $SHPG nabs NPS's rare disease drug portfolio in $5.2B buyout. News | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: $JNJ steps in with a $509M-plus deal to partner on a tau vaccine for Alzheimer's. Report | Follow @JohnCFierce
@DamianFierce: And so now Roche owns 56% of Foundation Medicine. Story | Follow @DamianFierce
> Mersana lines up for $300M in an R&D deal with Takeda. More
> Bristol-Myers aces a lung cancer trial with its blockbuster in waiting. Story
> Biogen Idec grabs Convergence, neuropathic pain portfolio in $675M buyout. Report
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: AmerisourceBergen storms into animal health with $2.5B purchase of MWI. FierceAnimalHealth story | Follow @FiercePharma
@CarlyHFierce: Off to #JPM15! Picture | Follow @CarlyHFierce
> Pharma calls for NICE overhaul as special cancer drugs fund nixes meds. Report
> Ambitious Actavis joins JPMorgan news fray with Street-beating EPS. Story
> Bristol-Myers scores lung cancer survival data on Opdivo as Merck preps for Keytruda filing. Article
Biotech IT News
> Adaptive buys Sequenta to pool immune sequencing capabilities. Story
> FDA to publish guidance on social media and clinical trial e-consent in 2015. More
> Novartis picks Qualcomm tech to enable remote collection of trial data. Article
> 23andMe strikes $60M Genentech deal to continue pivot to database-driven R&D. Report
> Biogen Idec inks $30M genetic R&D alliance with Columbia University. Item
CRO News
> Evotec extends a biotech deal with $13M on the line. Report
> Quintiles' Novella partners up for cardio device R&D. Story
> PPD's in-house biotech pairs up with J&J. Article
> AMRI spends $60M to beef up its manufacturing heft. More
> WuXi buys big into genomics with NextCODE deal. News
Animal Health News
> New strain of virulent PEDv found on Minnesota hog farm. Article
> Catterton offloads PetVet hospital network to Canadian pension plan for $440M. More
> Petco banishes China-made treats from shelves. Item
> Nexvet plans $60M IPO to advance pipeline of pet therapeutics. Story
> Aratana scores a 'first' with USDA approval for canine lymphoma drug. Report