Study: St. Jude's monitors boost survival probability; ImaginAb raises $21M;

@FierceMedDev: Masimo hit with subpoena over patient-monitoring tech. More | Follow @FierceMedDev

@VarunSaxena2: House votes to make R&D tax credit permanent. What will Senate do? Seems to prefer 2 year extension. Story via WSJ (sub. req.) | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@MichaelGFierce: Double-locked virus needs two enzyme 'keys' to release drugs. Story via FierceDrugDelivery | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> In data on more than 260,000 defibrillator and pacemaker patients, those who adhered to remote monitoring with St. Jude Medical's ($STJ) Merlin system had more the twice the probability of survival than those without remote monitoring, the company said. More

> Los Angeles' ImaginAb raised $21 million in venture cash to develop modified antibodies for in vivo imaging. Story

> SonaCare Medical has a date with the FDA to discuss its ultrasound-powered prostate cancer treatment, scheduling a hearing and vote with the agency's Gastroenterology and Urology Devices Advisory Committee Panel for Oct. 2. Item

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Chutes & Ladders: Bristol-Myers' senior VP of global development retires. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Merck KGaA says for the umpteenth time they're going to do some pharma deals. Loaded for bear. More | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Today in PfAy-Z: Pfizer cozies up to U.K. researchers in 5-year rare disease pact. Article | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: Antibiotic-resistant genes are almost everywhere. News | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Biotech's post-boom swoon mars IPO efforts from Radius, Agile. More

> Novartis-backed ImaginAb banks $21M for antibody tech. Article

> Merck wins FDA approval for a once-vaunted cardio drug. Report

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Pfizer's move on AstraZeneca outrages pols on two continents. More | Follow @FiercePharma

@TracyStaton: Popular at FiercePharmaMarketing: Payers fret about the next drug doomsday: Pricey PCSK9 cholesterol meds. Story | Follow @TracyStaton

@EricPFierce: CEO says Teva will close at least 11 plants, 15% of its network, and 16 more are being evaluated. Article | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: U.K.'s NICE throws Astellas a bone on Xtandi--or does it? Report | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Actavis slaps struggling Vivus with generic threat. More

> Merck gets approval for Zontivity for reducing stroke and heart attack risks. Item

> Ranbaxy losses pile up as it awaits the healing powers of Sun. Article