Aspen sales leap on GSK, Merck drug buys; Pfizer, Astellas part ways on Lipitor combo in Japan;

@FiercePharma: Top-read in FiercePharmaManufacturing Tues: Perrigo recalls 367,000 tubes of nicotine lozenges. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Cipla is spending $17M to buy two plants from one of its contractors. Report | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: ICYMI, Our latest special report - The top 10 best-selling MS drugs of 2013 - is here. Report | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Aspen Pharmacare, Africa's biggest generics maker, saw profits rise as drug buys from GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) and Merck ($MRK) helped boost international sales. Report

> Pfizer Japan will go it alone on promoting Caduet, a Lipitor/Norvasc combo pill, after canceling its co-marketing arrangement with Astellas. Report

> Sun Pharmaceutical says it's drawing up plans to boost sales of the drugs it will acquire along with Ranbaxy Laboratories in their merger, expected to close later this year. Report

> Pfizer ($PFE) will soon see Viagra competition in China, thanks to Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical's successful bid to win aproval for its knockoff version. Report

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: ICYMI yesterday: Study: Fecal incontinence implants reduce weekly incontinence episodes in women. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev

@VarunSaxena2: Novel epitope for binding of HIV antibodies has major drug delivery implications. FierceDrugDelivery story | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@MichaelGFierce: ICYMI: UO, Berkeley team tailors ultrathin peptoid nanosheets for delivery using oil and water. Report | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@EmilyWFierce: Physicians find little difference between old and new orthopedic implants, suggest "facts box" for knee & hip devices. MedPage Today article | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Scientist who discovered BRCA breast cancer gene advocates for systematic screening. More

> Study shows COPD device effective in deterring mucus buildup. Story

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: FDA panel spurns $ACT's cardio combo, jeopardizing its potential. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Xenon pitches Genentech, Teva "extreme genetics" ties as it rolls out a $52M. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: $AGN and Ackman have resorted to WWE-level taunts and provocations and it hasn't stopped being entertaining. Article via Reuters | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: Compound inhibits both MERS, SARS. More | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> R&D pioneer tackles the next hurdle in gene therapy: Paying for $1M-plus drugs. More

> Lilly and Boehringer snag EU nod for Lantus knockoff, but stateside hopes stay on ice. Article

> Genmab re-ups with Seattle Genetics on a $211M armed antibody cancer drug pact. Story

Drug Delivery News

> Microneedle patch delivers painkiller to second layer of skin in 5 minutes. Report

> Low T products under FDA scrutiny over safety concerns. Item

> Novaliq dissolvable drops improve eye quality in clinical trials. Story

> HIV-fighting intravaginal ring research nets $20M from NIH. More

> Novel epitope for binding of HIV antibodies has major drug delivery implications. Article

Diagnostics News

> Veracyte grabs Allegro Diagnostics for $21M and jumps into lung cancer test space. News

> U.K. test may help Roche's cancer drug Avastin target ideal patients. More

> GE Healthcare, FBI allege Chinese engineer stole MRI trade secrets. Report

> ASCO: Provista's autoantibody/biomarker combo boosts breast cancer screening accuracy. Article

> Myriad's multigene predictive cancer test shows utility in new trial. Story

Pharma Marketing News

> Attention market-access experts: NICE won't take pharma's word on cost-effectiveness anymore. Item

> Think a $150K cancer drug is pricey? Try a $1M-plus gene therapy. Editor's corner

> Teva goes analog for asthma with hands-on waiting-room game. Article

> Auxilium's Low-T woes put sales reps in line for layoffs. Story

> Free speech, PhRMA? Not in this off-label marketing case, feds say. More

And Finally... Airline crews had about twice the incidence of melanoma as the general population in a new study. Report