Ackman hires Credit Suisse in Allergan pursuit; Actavis wraps Furiex buyout;

@FiercePharma: Once again, top-read on FP yesterday: Sex, bribes and videotape: Clandestine video of $GSK exec adds to China scandal. Article | Follow @FiercePharma

@TracyStaton: ICYMI: Here's @JohnCFierce's take on the Vertex VX-809/Kalydeco PhIII, including interview with CEO Jeff Leiden. Story | Follow @TracyStaton

@EricPFierce: ICYMI: This Indian pharma exec understands how to attain quality production & that many of his compatriots do not. More | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: In case anybody missed this one, here are the top 5 vaccines by 2020. Feature | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Activist investor Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management has hired Credit Suisse to advise it in its quest to help Valeant ($VRX) take over Allergan ($AGN). Report

> Actavis ($ACT) has completed its acquisition of Furiex Pharmaceuticals. Release

> Pfizer ($PFE) has appointed the Thomson Reuters CEO James Smith to its board of directors. Report

> AstraZeneca ($AZN) has filed a lawsuit against Mylan ($MYL) in the U.S. to block a generic version of diabetes drug Onglyza. More

> Salix Pharmaceuticals' ($SLXP) lead drug, Xifaxan, succeeded in a late-stage study of irritable bowel syndrome. Report

> Philip Johnson, head of IP at Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ), will become the next head of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Story

> ANI Pharmaceuticals has acquired Lithobid Extended Release tablets from Noven Therapeutics. Release

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Muscle cell-powered 'bio-bot' could carry drugs. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev

@StacyALawrence: In obesity device race, ReShape lines up with FDA. Article | Follow @StacyALawrence

@VarunSaxena2: AHRQ report highlights government concern over chronic wound care, home healthcare. Story | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@MichaelGFierce: Nanoparticles designed to prevent cancer, aid bones. More from Laboratory Equipment | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@EmilyWFierce: Which med tech CEOs took home the biggest paychecks in 2013? Find out here: Feature | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Intuitive Surgical kicks off da Vinci sales in Japan. Article

> Med techs Cerus, Amedica score $56M in debt. Story

> Canada to implement UDI based solely on international guidelines. Report

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Interesting Porges note spotlights $GILD's 67% success rate in deals--95% success rate by $$$--since 2000. No doubt Sovaldi helped... | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Oct. 2013: Seragon raises $30M Series A. July 2014: $RHHBY buys it for up to $1.7B. News | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: Chikungunya: Tracing a Virus's Past to Predict its Future. Story from The Scientist | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Nicox adds to eye-drug pipeline with $120M buyout deal for Aciex. Story

> Takeda's chief-in-waiting sees big M&A in the drugmaker's future. More

> IPO hopefuls swing for $126.5M and hope biotech's window stays open. Article

> Neuropsychiatric biotech raises $20M for PhII program. Item

> Jazz gambles up to $250M on a long-delayed rare-disease drug. News

Drug Delivery News

> Muscle cell-powered 'bio-bot' could carry drugs. Story

> Researchers aim to sneak antibiotics into bacteria via naturally occurring molecule. Article

> BMS recalls injectable warfarin, oral formulation unaffected. More

> MicroRNA delivery specialist Microlin Bio nears $30 million IPO. Article

> Targeted nanoparticles home in on myeloma and strengthen bones. Story

Diagnostics News

> Roche and New Zealand university launch lab team for Dx development and training. Article

> GE Healthcare's Alzheimer's imaging agent gains backing of key EU agency committee. News

> Report: Abbott is cutting diagnostics division jobs. More

> NIH keeps Corgenix Ebola Dx project running with new funding. Article

> Abcodia will license access to serum biobank for cardiovascular disease biomarker work. Story

Pharma Marketing News

> Facing threats from Purdue, Teva and Pfizer, Zogenix puts Zohydro follow-up into high gear. More

> The FDA should step up its own social-media action, NEJM researchers say. Report

> Study: Med students cozy with industry reps more likely to dole out branded drugs. More

> With a new IPF drug on its way, Boehringer backs a Discovery documentary on the lung disease. Story

> Now that it's FDA-approved, MannKind has to actually sell its inhaled insulin Afrezza. Article

> J&J, Pfizer in tug-of-war over ads for Infants' Advil. News

And Finally... The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team is tracking its movements to prevent injuries. More