@FiercePharma: Scary-odd news from Bloomberg: Amgen blood drugs may help victims survive nuclear attack. Story | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: FDA tests the waters on Plan B, approves it for girls 15 and older, off the shelf but requires proof of age. Report | Follow @EricPFierce
> Vertex Pharmaceuticals' ($VRTX) revenue dropped 25% for the first quarter, thanks to faltering sales of its hepatitis C drug Incivek, but the company hiked forecasts for sales of its cystic fibrosis drug Kalydeco to $300 million to $340 million, $20 million more than previously. Release | Report
> A potential deal for Brazilian drugmaker Aché has run aground as family owners bicker over price, leaving rumored bidders Novartis ($NVS) and Abbott Laboratories ($ABT) hanging. Report (sub. req.)
> Roche's ($RHHBY) anti-inflammatory drug Actemra won a new indication in children with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, a rare form of the disease. Report
> A federal judge tossed out a lawsuit alleging Amgen ($AMGN) hired corporate spies to steal trade secrets about Teva Pharmaceutical's ($TEVA) generic versions of blood drugs, saying Teva had "no factual basis" for its claim. Report (sub. req.)
> Denmark's Lundbeck posted a bigger-than-expected increase in quarterly earnings and affirmed its 2013 forecasts, aided by an expanded alliance with Japanese drugmaker Otsuka. Report
@FierceMedDev: Natera hauls in $54.6M for prenatal Dx. News | Follow @FierceMedDev
@MarkHFierce: An MRI scan to measure brain atrophy could predict MS, a new University at Buffalo study has determined. More | Follow @MarkHFierce
@DamianFierce: Join us for a trip through why a repeal of the medical device tax is unlikely to happen any time soon. Editor's Corner | Follow @DamianFierce
> Hospira pulling the plug on troubled devices. Report
> Fresenius Medical watches profits slip amid U.S. struggles. Article
> Cardiovascular Systems addresses U.S. government info request in insider trader investigation. Item
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: ICYMI, check out newest Industry Voices: Time to Take Fecal Transplantation Seriously. Feature | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Seems likely to me that Merck is going to cut open R&D and do some major surgery. Perlmutter is two weeks on the job. | Follow @JohnCFierce
@RyanMFierce: Just talked to Semantelli about IMS Health deal: IMS Health acquires social media analytics startup Semantelli. Report | Follow @RyanMFierce
> Merck spotlights new deals, R&D review as demands to rebuild pipeline grow. Story
> VCs provide $40M to finance Celator's pivotal PhIII AML study. News
> FDA steamrolls over panel vote, spurns Titan's addiction drug Probuphine. Article
Biomarkers News
> Dozens of new biomarkers gauge ovarian cancer survival prospects. Report
> Investigators profile a lethal tumor cell that could spur metastasis. Article
> Verastem gears up for companion Dx mesothelioma treatment trial. More
> Brain atrophy could predict MS, study finds. Story
> Key biomarker measure + CT scan predict melanoma survival odds. Item
Drug Delivery News
@MichaelGFierce: Merck, Celgene cancer nanomeds combined for better delivery. Report | Follow @MichaelGFierce
> Researchers open window through blood-brain barrier. Story
> ClearPoint MRI-guided device sheds light on drug delivery to the brain. Editor's Corner
> 'Spider' protein can deliver stable vaccines in high concentration. More
> Insuline's InsuPatch delivery device suffers FDA setback. Item
And Finally... Disturbed by latest caffeinated chewing gum--not to mention caffeinated Cracker Jack--FDA eyes new limits. Report (sub. req.)