Baxter plans $1B plasma operation in Georgia; Slovenia's Krka on hunt for buyout;

 @FiercePharma: More on Novartis' Q2 results, from Bloomberg. Consumer sales tumble 20% on plant closure. News | Follow @FiercePharma

> Baxter International ($BAX) is plotting a $1 billion plasma-processing complex in Atlanta, supported by collection facilities around the state of Georgia. Report

> Slovenian drugmaker Krka says it's looking to expand via acquisition and may announce a deal by year's end. Article

> To win regulatory approval for its buyout of Pfizer's ($PFE) nutrition unit, Nestlé may sell as much as $1.8 billion worth of the Pfizer unit's assets. Item

> The state of Nebraska says it will defy an FDA order to turn over its remaining supplies of sodium thiopental, an anesthetic used in executions. Story

> Sun Pharmaceutical Industries won FDA approval to sell a knockoff version of Eli Lilly's ($LLY) antipsychotic drug Zyprexa. News

> Shire ($SHPGY) was sanctioned by U.K. marketing watchdogs for claims it made on a website supporting its Gaucher's disease treatment Vpriv. More

> A study of anti-shingles vaccination concluded that the shot is safe and well-tolerated, with a low incidence of side effects. Report

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Open source sizzles in biotech sphere. More | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: No surprise AZ is talking up brewing up more deals this year. No surprise they aren't even sticking to their disease focus. | Follow @JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: FDA CIO Eric Perakslis told me that he wants to enable certain agency staff to work more virtually. He's giving more details at Bio-IT World 2012. | Follow @RyanMFierce

 @MarkHFierce: Seeking healthy fat? Then clone a sheep with the right nutrients genetically woven in--via ReutersArticle | Follow @MarkHFierce

> Amgen founding CEO George Rathmann dies at 84. News

> Biogen Idec builds blockbuster case for new MS drug BG-12. More

> AstraZeneca plots more pipeline deals. Article

> Merck KGaA shuttering Swiss complex, dispatching R&D to Boston. Story

Medical Devices News

 @FierceMedDev: Orthofix to sell sports-medicine unit for $157.5M | MarketWatchStory | Follow @FierceMedDev

> Boston Sci heralds Emerge launch in Europe, eyes U.S., other markets. Article

> Illumina results impress despite Roche drama. News

Biotech Research News

> Powerful protein halts DNA damage and may block tumors. More

> Johns Hopkins researchers find gene tied to CF secondary complication. Article

> Beyond stem cells: Scientists explore three new paths. Story

> Scientists successfully replicate synthetic DNA. Item

> Nanotech-boosted drug lessens cerebral palsy symptoms in rabbits. News

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Alli sale still held hostage by Roche GMP issues. Item

Life Technologies expands manufacturing in Scotland. More

> China seizes 77 million tainted drug capsules in crackdown. News

> Merck KGaA manufacturing dodges worst of reductions. Article

> Pfizer, J&J, Abbott facing shortages of crucial ingredients in Pakistan. Story

And Finally... What's the best time to get up? New alarm clocks will tell you. Report