@FiercePharma: Interesting look at Big Pharma's new-drug sales, a.k.a Freshness Index, from Forbes columnist Bernard Munos. Report | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: Actavis getting nearly $3 million from taxpayers to expand a plant in Florida. Story | Follow @EricPFierce
> Actavis plans to invest $40.5 million into its plant in Davie, FL, in an expansion expected to create about 220 new jobs. Report
> Strides Arcolab CEO Arun Kumar figures the Indian company can beef up its biologics business and pharma sales to quickly replace revenues from its to-be-sold injectables unit Agila Specialties. Report
> Indian generics makers Lupin and Aurobindo Pharma won FDA approval for their versions of Diovan HCT, a combination blood-pressure pill made by Novartis ($NVS). Report
> The FDA approved Cangene's Botulism Antitoxin Heptavalent, the first antibody to combat all types of toxins known to cause botulism. Report
> China's Sinopharm says its 2012 profits are up 26% from 2011, at 1.97 billion yuan ($317 million). Report
> Indian pharmaceutical exports to Nigeria rose to $307 million for the most recent fiscal year, an increase of 35% over the previous year. Report
@FierceMedDev: Cornell: Metal stents work well as blocked bile duct treatment. Item | Follow @FierceMedDev
@MarkHFierce: Third Rock is rolling out a new $516M VC fund, for device, Dx and biotech companies. Target: early-stage companies. Release | Follow @MarkHFierce
@DamianFierce: Abbott is warning overseas surgeons about a safety issue with MitraClip, all as it seeks FDA approval. Report | Follow @DamianFierce
> Ohio company pulls in $9M Series B for laparoscopic visual shield. Story
> Argon puts $362.5M on Angiotech's interventionals biz. Article
> Prostate cancer patients driving penile implant boom. Report
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: More on CRO shutdown from FierceCRO.com: Former Cetero shutters ops, leaving sponsors, patients locked out. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Third Rock Ventures adds $516M fund to back new portfolio of biotechs. News | Follow @JohnCFierce
@RyanMFierce: Astellas Pharma taps supercomputer for IT-driven drug discovery. More | Follow @RyanMFierce
> Versant adds $7.5M to upstart biotech's A round. Story
> Strike two: FDA hands United Therapeutics another rejection on oral Remodulin. Article
> Novartis snags FDA approval for antibiotic in CF patients. Story
CRO News
> Bayer deepens Cambodian presence with DKSH partnership. More
> Sanofi beefs up CMO game with Transgene deal. Item
> Dr. Reddy's wins $22.5M from CRO Nordion. News
> Duke's in-house CRO snags trial deal for RNAi drug. Article
> ShangPharma wins investor vote for go-private plan. Story
Biotech IT News
> BlackBerry founder bets on quantum tech in life sciences. Item
> NextDocs and Microsoft pushing clinical trials to the cloud. Story
> AstraZeneca IT chief talks up Big Data amid R&D turmoil. Report
> Biotech data merges onto UC San Diego's Big Data 'freeway.' Article
> Merck slashes data-management costs with China site. More
And Finally... The American Academy of Neurology said about 20% of surveyed members missed major FDA safety warnings on antiepileptic medicines. Report