Sen. Reid: Device tax repeal now is 'stupid'; Bioconnect Systems raises $9.1M;

@FierceMedDev:  axes jobs after FDA warns over pump. News | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: KKR sealed the deal to buy Panasonic's healthcare business for $1.67B. Higher than expected. Press release | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: Laser-sensitive surface enables IV-drug identification for safer delivery. ICYMI from FierceDrugDelivery | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said that attaching the medical device tax repeal to any short-term government funding measure is "stupid." Story

> Pennsylvania's Bioconnect Systems raised $9.1 million in a private stock sale to help fund development, in part, of devices to improve vascular access in patients with end-stage renal disease that face hemodialysis. Story

> NxThera in Minnesota treated its first patients in a clinical trial involving the company's water vapor endourology treatment for enlarged prostate.  Item

> UCLA researchers developed a new type of fluorescent camera for blood diagnostics and brain mapping. Item

> Becton Dickinson ($BDX), the World Health Organization and Saving Lives at Birth will develop a surgical instrument designed to help assist with births during difficult labor. Item

> RCT Ventures is gearing up for its 2014 "MedTech Idol" competition to identify promising new medical device companies. Story

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Popular yesterday: In another stinging setback, Eli Lilly's ramucirumab fails PhIII breast cancer study. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: ICYMI: Nektar Therapeutics shares crash on PhII pain drug trial flop. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: After a so-so IPO, Regado is axing 15% of its employees, mostly in R&D. Article | Follow @DamianFierce

> Third Rock's path to success lined with patience, rigor and T-shirts. Story

> Inotek snags $21M for PhII glaucoma drops. Item

> Yale biotech spinout launches with $18M and a new approach to cancer. Report

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Top story yesterday online: If reps can't get in doctors' front doors, try alternate routes. Item | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Judge smokes jury's $1.7 million verdict against Takeda for not properly warning on Actos dangers. Article | Follow @EricPFierce

> Japan authorities digging deeper into Novartis' use of flawed Diovan study. More

> U.K.'s nod to J&J's Caelyx comes even as shortages expected. Article

> U.K. to extend cancer drug fund for treatments NICE rejects. Story