@FiercePharma: Discounts, dealmaking and OTC plans: Pfizer aims to hang onto as much Lipitor as possible. Story | Follow @FiercePharma
> Declining sales of the Alzheimer's drug Aricept weighed on Eisai's first-half profits; the Japanese drugmaker posted a 17% decline in net income. Story
> A small business advocacy group is writing Federal Trade Commission officials to protest the pending merger of Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions. News
> Generics maker Par Pharmaceutical ($PRX) reported earnings of 74 cents per share, slightly higher than analysts had expected, aided by strong sales of its blood pressure drug Metoprolol. Item
> Wholesaler AmerisourceBergen posted higher-than-expected earnings for the fourth quarter, fueled by strong generic sales and specialty-drug revenues. Article
> Watson Pharmaceuticals ($WPI) hiked its full-year forecast after strong contraceptives sales helped deliver a 39% increase in generics revenue. News
> Endo Pharmaceuticals is moving to a new headquarters in Malvern, PA, by the end of the year. Story
> GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) had its shares upgraded to Outperform by Cowen and Company analyst Steve Scala, who calls the company's growth prospects "solid." Report
> The number of annual deaths from prescription-painkiller overdoses has nearly quadrupled over a decade as the drugs became more common and easier to obtain. Story
> Vietnamese drugmaker Ha Tay Pharmaceutical was only able to sell 20% of its 6.7 million-share stock issue, all of it purchased by existing shareholders. Item
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: Medical experts argue in favor of beleaguered AZ/BMS diabetes drug dapagliflozin. Item | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Exelixis has always had problems with study designs; source of issue with BMS. Fight the FDA, though? Shares tank. Piece | Follow @JohnCFierce
@RyanMFierce: UK drug delivery co Oxford Pharmascience has raised £1.1M for Brazil biz and generics Article | Follow @RyanMFierce
@MaureenFierce: Sanofi set to rev past Pfizer in pharma rankings. Report | Follow @MaureenFierce
> Pharmasset shares continue rise on PhIII plan for interferon-free PSI-7977. News
> Medical experts argue in favor of beleaguered AZ/BMS diabetes drug. Article
> Report: Sanofi alerts U.S. workers to new layoffs in R&D restructuring. Story
Medical Devices News
> Medtronic unveils procedure for minimally invasive spinal fusion. More
> BD falls after failing to meet profit forecast expectations. Report
> Abbott gets nod for Xience Prime. Story
> Medtronic CoreValve study initiated in Japan. Item
> Wright Medical sees net sales decline 3%. Piece
> Axis-Shield, CVS Caremark's MinuteClinic ink deal. Item
Drug Delivery News
> InflammaGen combats "self-digestion" with new delivery and treatment system. More
> Access Pharma tapping investors for $5.2M. Article
> SurModics selling drug delivery unit to Evonik for $30M. News
> Pacira's FDA nod marks win for extended-release tech. Report
> NanoSmart targets tiny 'bubbles' of cancer drugs to childhood tumors. More
> VC-backed Pulmatrix touts inhaled drug tech's delivery of Advair. Article
And Finally... Exercise can cut the risk of obesity even in genetically predisposed people. News