@FiercePharma: Weldon: J&J's recall probe almost wrapped. Article | Follow @FiercePharma
> Bristol-Myers Squibb agreed to acquire ZymoGenetics, the maker of a hepatitis C drug the companies were jointly developing, for $885 million. News
> India's Sun Pharmaceutical Industries took a big leap towards taking control of Israel's Taro Pharmaceutical Industries. Report
> Use of biomarkers in clinical trials to grow at blistering pace. News
> Allergan directors should be held liable for opening up the maker of wrinkle smoother Botox to criminal sanctions and a $600 million settlement by allowing the drug to be marketed for unapproved uses, investors said in a lawsuit. Article
> Biomarker helps guide study on smoking cessation treatments. Report
> Researchers' biomarker discovery could help those with Alzheimer's. Item
> Standard & Poor's Ratings Services may cut its credit ratings on Sanofi-Aventis, which is trying to buy the biotechnology company Genzyme. Article
> Merck's antipsychotic drug Saphris won the FDA nod for two additional uses: ongoing schizophrenia treatment and as an add-on to bipolar standbys lithium and valproate. Item
> Purdue Pharma has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit by purchasers of Oxycontin over how it obtained patents on the painkiller in the 1990s. Story
> Lonza said it would manufacture a number of drug compounds for GlaxoSmithKline, adding to signs of a revival in demand from pharmaceutical clients. Report
> More than 80 percent of U.K. pharmacists say it is now more difficult than ever to obtain branded medicines and many expect things to get worse next year, a new survey shows. News
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: Actavis eyes fast-growing biosimilar market. News | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Biovail, Valeant plan to cut 25% of combined staffs. Get the impression from Reuters that R&D is getting downplayed. Article | Follow @JohnCFierce
> Zogenix files for $90 million IPO. Report
> Third Rock pushes Rhythm venture round to $40 million. News
> Onyx snags $339 million Japan deal for PhIII cancer med. Article
Medical Device News
> St. Jude invests $60M in CardioMEMS. Report
> Garrett resigns as Beckman Coulter CEO. News
> Sicel names McDaniel interim president, avoids bankruptcy. Item
> Invacare asks ITC to exclude beds. Story
Drug Delivery News
> FDA OKs thin-film version of opioid-dependence drug. Report
> BDSI, Meda, FDA talk about streamlining REMS for Onsolis. Story
> SHL says "Good Golly" to "Molly" in syringe marketing campaign. Article
> Alexza licenses Staccato nicotine delvery to Cypress Bioscience. Item
And Finally... Israeli scientists found a significant link between taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs like Pfizer's Lipitor or AstraZeneca's Crestor and a reduced risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Article
