Celgene boosts Q2 sales by whopping 22%; Shire raises guidance, citing Vyvanse, Firazyr sales; Amgen files for new Kyprolis use;

@FiercePharma: NIAID scientists one step closer to 'universal' flu vaccine. More | Follow @FiercePharma

@CarlyHFierce: Earnings season is better than Christmas. I mean, I actually like most things better than Christmas, but point still stands. | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Celgene ($CELG) beat expectations with a whopping 22% increase in sales, thanks to continued growth for its top seller, Revlimid, which brought in $1.44 billion in sales; newer meds Pomalyst and Abraxane also delivered, driving revenue to $2.3 billion overall. Release

> Shire ($SHPG) boosted its earnings guidance for the year as sales came in flat, thanks to currency effects and generic competition for its high blood pressure drug Intuniv, citing strong contributions from its ADHD and binge-eating drug Vyvanse and rare disease drug Firazyr. Release

> Amgen ($AMGN) submitted an FDA application for expanded approval of its multiple myeloma drug Kyprolis, for use in patients who've failed on one previous therapy. Release

> The U.S. health insurer Anthem ($WLP) is close to finalizing a deal for rival Cigna ($CI) as consolidation in the industry continues. Report

> Merck & Co. ($MRK) said it would pay a fourth-quarter dividend of 0.45 cents per share. Release

> Swedish drugmaker Meda posted street-beating profits on 2% sales growth, and it confirmed its full-year forecast of 20 billion crowns or about $2.32 billion. Report

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Oxford Nanopore reels in $109M to ramp up R&D. FierceDiagnostics story | Follow @FierceMedDev

@StacyALawrence: iHealth expands its retail, connected medical device empire and looks to move into. Report | Follow @StacyALawrence

@VarunSaxena2: UPDATED: St. Jude to buy Thoratec for $3.4B, will pair its heart pump with the cardioMEMs patient monitor. Story | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@EmilyWFierce: Nonprofit snags $5.2M grant to investigate U.S. drug pricing. FiercePharma article | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Bard ($BCR) hit with FDA warning letter affecting its vena cava filters. Report

> Harvard Wyss Institute spins out apnea prevention startup MediCollector. Article

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: RaNA banks $55M to get its RNA drugs into the clinic. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Cara Therapeutics scores another positive PhII for lead opioid. More | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: The world is terrible. Article | Follow @DamianFierce

> Eli Lilly ($LLY) is expanding R&D ops in San Diego, adding 130 researchers. News

> Big Pharmas back Ra's $58.5M bet on a rival to Soliris. Story

> In Alzheimer's, hope, hype and disappointment as biopharma goes all-in on amyloid. Article

> Leery of new deals, Roche ($RHHBY) spotlights its late-stage pipeline standouts. Report

Vaccines News

> Pfizer ($PFE) talks up 'comprehensive' vaccines business. Report

> Health officials detail need for $2B vaccines fund. Item

> NIAID scientists one step closer to 'universal' flu vaccine. Article

> SutroVax bags $22M Series A to develop vaccines for infectious diseases. Story

> Sanofi's ($SNY) dengue vaccine anticipated on profitability 'high end.' More

CRO News

> Biocon might spin out its CRO after taking it public. More

> Huntingdon and Harlan raise up to $125M to fund their future together. News

> PRA doubles down on the hunt for new R&D talent. Report

> Covance and LabCorp ($LH) open a new R&D center to pool their expertise. Story

> AMRI ($AMRI) bets $174M on manufacturing with latest buyout. Article

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Sun may only get three of Ranbaxy's four banned plants ready for U.S. market. Item

> Capsugel is expanding its plant in Scotland. More

> Lupin gets first U.S. manufacturing base with buyout of GAVIS. Report

> Patheon, DPx unload chemical operations to tighten focus on pharma. Story

> Sandoz gives Novartis a boost, but three plants still get the boot. Article

Pharma Asia News

> From the pharma C-suite: Novartis ($NVS) on Asia, emerging markets in Q2. Item

> Lee family victory in Samsung shareholder challenge sets stage for biologics ramp up. Report

> India's drug and CRO manufacturing travails gather pace as New Delhi calls on diplomats to help. Article

> Industry groups lobby against Japan reimbursement price cuts. Story

> China state-owned drug firms move to direct consumer sales, prescriptions next? More

And Finally... Many hospitals overestimate how quickly they give clot-fighting treatments to stroke patients. Report