Amgen raises forecast on street-beating profits; Rumors swirl about AZ-Amarin deal;

@FiercePharma: More pain for Big Pharma sales: Lilly's drop 11%, earnings fall short. Not as bad as BMS, though. More | Follow @FiercePharma

> Amgen ($AMGN) hiked its earnings forecast for the year after third-quarter profits beat estimates, on higher sales of its anti-inflammatory Enbrel and bone drug Xgeva. Report

> New rumors of an AstraZeneca ($AZN)  deal for Amarin Pharmaceuticals ($AMRN) sent the latter's stock upward. Report

> FDA pulled its original list identifying customers of the meningitis-linked New England Compounding Center, after some facilities were included by mistake. Report

> Reckitt Benckiser posted a 5% sales hike for the quarter, thanks to strong performance in emerging markets. Report

> Researchers found a potential biomarker to predict which colon cancer patients would respond to treatment with Roche's ($RHHBY) Avastin, but the company questioned their methodology. Report

> Genetic characteristics may explain the placebo effect in some patients, in a study that could help drugmakers design better trials. Report

> GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) launched its first inhaler-recycling program in the U.S. Report

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: The FDA says it will focus more on quality in the device approval process. What that means may be an open question. More | Follow @FierceMedDev

 @MarkHFierce: A medical device regulatory scandal erupts in Great Britain. Report | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: Thermo Fisher beats the Street again on soaring diagnostics sales. More | Follow @DamianFierce

> St. Jude's heart-plug future hinges on study data. Story

> EU notified bodies accused of improperly competing for device business. Article

> Bard nabs Neomend for $140M. News

> Zoll Medical launches Japan division. Report

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Industry Voices: Biosimilars and Trade Secrets. Feature | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: ZS Pharma down in Fort Worth raised $46M in venture funds for clinical trial of kidney, liver disease drug. | Follow @JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: Radius has set its biotech IPO range $8.50-$10.50. Will it hit its price target and keep the streak alive? More | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Two Texas biotech outfits lasso venture deals totaling $81M. Article

> FDA smacks down United Therapeutics' oral hypertension drug. Report

> Report: J&J jettisons 130 jobs after PhIII Alzheimer's misfire. Story

Drug Delivery News

> Fuse Science rolls out roll-on delivery. News

> Biotecnol and PolyTherics team up to develop drug conjugates. Story

> Antibiotic Trojan horse for cholera may be possible. Item

> Oral flu vaccine melts in your mouth. More

Biomarkers News

> Genes might not be the key to antidepressant success after all. Story

> Blood test could predict breast cancer 20 years early. More

> Blood antibody pinpoints deadly preeclampsia. Article

> Researchers seek new pancreatic cancer biomarkers. Item

And Finally... As scientists predict DNA testing will transform medicine, doctors and hospitals are ignoring longstanding tests that could help prevent thousands of cancer deaths. Report