St. Jude Medical authorizes $700M share repurchase; Medtronic starts trial for vitamin-sized pacemaker;

@FierceMedDev: Edwards looks to a rocky 2014 as Medtronic looms. More | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: $100M gets CareFusion a minority stake in an Israeli infusion pump maker--they're old friends as well. Story | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: New Hologic CEO aims for Dx revenue growth over sale option. Item | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@GalenMoore: Genetic testing: Invitae completes a $40 million series E financing. Release | Follow @GalenMoore

> St. Jude Medical's ($STJ) board of directors authorized a share repurchase of up to $700 million shares of common stock. Item

> Medtronic ($MDT) has launched a global clinical trial of a transcatheter pacemaker system the size of a large vitamin, and the first patient recently received the implant in Austria. Item

> NeuroMetrix ($NURO) said it will work with Omron Medical Devices to distribute its test for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in China. Item

> An FDA advisory panel will consider on Dec. 11 whether to recommend approval for Boston Scientific's ($BSX) Watchman implant, designed to prevent strokes. Story

> Endo Health Solutions' ($ENDP) American Medical Systems arm won the FDA's 510(k) clearance for a new sling system to treat female stress urinary incontinence. Item

> Researchers have developed a mathematical model designed to improve how stents are used to treat coronary heart disease. Item

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Alzheimers R&D: The biggest lottery in the industry, with a winning ticket worth an overnight fortune. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: So what are the 5 worst pharma media ops? Novartis certainly makes the list. Merck of course. Other suggestions? | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: The FDA's still wary of dapagliflozin, AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb's once-rejected diabetes drug. More | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: Nobel winner declares boycott of top science journals. Story via The Guardian | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> AbbVie's second PhIII hep C study confirms cocktail's promise. Item

> Danish officials cite Novo Nordisk for delay of game. Article

> Takeda sways FDA panel with its bowel disease drug despite viral risks. More

> FDA raises safety, efficacy questions for Bristol-Myers' rare-disease drug metreleptin. News

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Teva braces for a $550M hit from Copaxone generics. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: As this story says, Merck was getting heat on Fosamax litigation it is now settling. News | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: Pfizer loses Supreme Court bid to squash $142M Neurontin verdict. More | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Drugmakers, beware of tweets that trigger stock moves. Story

> Novo Nordisk in hot water for delaying bad news on Tresiba. News

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Track-and-trace is here ... and now. Editor's corner

> FDA spanks a second Jubilant HollisterStier plant. More

> Alvogen makes a $250M biosimilars investment in Iceland. Story

> Biogen API plant gets nicked by the FDA. Article

> Hospira cuts costs by expanding drug and API production outside of the U.S. News

> Pharma Tech adds capacity as the CMO industry heats up. Report

> Feds close down importer that sold unapproved Botox and cancer drugs. Item

Biotech Research News

> Cellular Dynamics and Jain Foundation partner on stem cell models for muscular dystrophy. More

> GlaxoSmithKline initiates global cancer consortium. Item

> Report: Global malaria R&D needs $8.3B boost over next decade. Story

> Gene discovery could predict responsiveness of antidepressants. Report

> International Stem Cell Corp. finds a new way to reprogram cells. News

> 1 in 100 cancers associated with gene mutation. Article