AstraZeneca wins European approval for opioid-induced constipation drug; EU health officials investigate GVK Bio for alleged fraud;

@FiercePharma: Did Merck pay $3B too much for Cubist? Analysts weigh impact of Cubicin patent loss. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@CarlyHFierce: AbbVie's Humira competition begins with Cadila's biosimilar launch in India. More | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> AstraZeneca ($AZN) scored European Union approval for Movantik, its opioid-induced constipation drug developed with Nektar Therapeutics. Story

> European Union health officials are cracking down on contract research firm GVK Bio after several allegations of fraud at its clinical facility in India. More

> Dutch pharmaceutical outfit Brocacef is snatching up medical supplies and equipment provider Mediq to create a company with combined sales of €2.1 billion ($2.6 billion). Story

> Takeda revealed promising Phase III study data showing that Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) patients who received its Adcetris therapy after a stem cell transplant had a significantly improved survival rate compared to patients who received a placebo. More

> AstraZeneca snatched up the lease on a new, 29,000-square-foot property in Cambridge, U.K. The building will accommodate between 150 and 200 members of the company's corporate staff. Story

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: ICYMI yesterday: Edwards gains option to acquire startup CardioKinetix in $50M financing. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev

@EmilyWFierce: Stryker's OtisMed to pay more than $80M to settle DOJ case over knee replacement surgical devices. Story | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Eurofins Scientific snaps up Boston Heart Diagnostics for $140M. Story

> Brain sensors go wireless in Brown University study. More

> Edwards looks to TAVR to convince Wall Street it can go higher after doubling in 2014. Article

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Bluebird posts more promising results with its rare disease therapy. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

@DamianFierce: So the billionaire Russian oligarch who bought Watson's Nobel medal for $4.1 million is giving it back because hey. More | Follow @DamianFierce

> Pfizer strikes another immunotherapy deal to widen its oncology pipeline. News

> Lilly and Incyte's oral arthritis drug aces its first Phase III test. Story

> Circassia looks to higher doses to salvage ragweed drug after PhIIb miss. Article

Biotech Research News

> Epizyme showcases a successful preclinical lymphoma program for third target. More

> MicroRNA holds clues to predicting progression-free myeloma survival. Report

> New malaria drug unleashes an immune system assault on infected cells. Story

> Could alpha secretase offer a better approach to fighting Alzheimer's? More

> PKC-epsilon pathway offers a new line of attack against cancer cells. Article

Pharma Manufacturing News

> India's Zydus Cadila finds blood pressure med has embedded brown spots. Story

> Ferring preps for first U.S. plant opening as it moves to New Jersey campus. More

> FDA notches a win after Tennessee compounder pleads guilty. Report

> Meda drops Recipharm contract; plant may be forced to close. Story

> Daewoong inks deal to build $188M facility in South Korea. Article

And Finally… Harvard University researchers are moving one step closer to creating a fat-burning pill that could one day replace the treadmill. Story