Bayer hires Rothschild for spinoff advice; Novartis adds 83 to Diovan job cuts toll;

@FiercePharma: Allergan rebuffed Actavis bid, saying it's 'closing in' on a $10B-plus Salix buy. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Mylan proposes plan to avoid nitroglycerin shortage in Canada. Article via FiercePharmaManufacturing | Follow @EricPFierce

> Bayer tapped Rothschild to advise it on plans to set up its plastics business as a separate company, either via an IPO or a spinoff valued at some $13 billion. Report

> Novartis ($NVS) said it's cutting another 83 jobs at the plant in Suffern, NY, that currently turns out its off-patent blood pressure drug Diovan. Report

> The FDA warned doctors to guard against fake drugs by keeping an eye on unscrupulous drug distributors with "too good to be true" pricing offers. Report

> Biogen Idec ($BIIB) won kudos from the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for its efforts in labor fairness, environmentally efficient operations and supply chain management. Report

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Treasury's crackdown on inversion could scupper Medtronic-Covidien deal. More | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MichaelGFierce: Vaxxas' nanopatch garners WHO support in search of #polio vax application. Story via FierceDrugDelivery | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@VarunSaxena2: In case you're wondering, $MDT can cancel its deal with $COV without penalty if it's due to changes in the tax code. Wonder what will happen. | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@EmilyWFierce: T2 Biosystems wins FDA approval for sepsis diagnostic system. More | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Philips splits in two, making HealthTech its sole priority. News

> Ivantis gets $71M for glaucoma device, while Minerva secures $21M to reduce menstrual bleeding. Article

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: If you missed yesterday's live #Fierce15 announcement, catch the replay from @partnering360. Watch | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Fun watching the inversion news bend from "Oh no!" to "Hey, wait a minute" this morning. Maybe not the kiss of death after all? | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Fierce15 winner Molecular Partners just filed to raise ~$134M in a Swiss IPO. | Follow @DamianFierce

> Fast-tracked Ebola studies put Tekmira, Mapp and Sarepta in the spotlight. News

> Biogen shoulders into gene therapy amid a second honeymoon for the field. More

> NEA pitches in on a $27M gamble on Tracon's mid-stage cancer drug program. Story

> Who loses in biopharma as Treasury moves to block tax inversions? Article

Biotech Research News

> Researchers develop tumor-on-a-chip to test new cancer drugs. Article

> Genetic 'switch' may control aging process. News

> Drug development for tropical diseases gets $15.3M boost. Item

> Pathway discovery reveals another potential Alzheimer's drug target. Article

> New technique generates stem cells at highly efficient rate. Story

Pharma Manufacturing News

> GSK accidentally dumps 'liquid contaminated with poliovirus' into Belgian sewer system. Report

> Ritedose to invest up to $110M in South Carolina plant. Article

> Recall of Mylan nitroglycerin revised to avoid shortage. Story

> GSK influenza plant in Texas on track to start up in 2016. Item

> Merck KGaA deal for Sigma-Aldrich gets it some specialty manufacturing capacity. More

And Finally... The makers of a skin-cancer diagnostics app, Dermofit, are planning for a launch to med students, dermatology nurses and general practitioners. Report