Brazil's Hypermarcas sells drug assets to Merck; Sanofi to unload Paris R&D park; Teva recruits new vice chairman;

@FiercePharma: Tuesday's best-read new news: Teva braces for $550M hit from Copaxone generics. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: The here and now of track and trace. Editor's corner | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: Tuesday's most popular special report: Top 10 generics makers by 2012 revenue. Report | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> The Brazilian drugmaker and consumer goods manufacturer Hypermarcas plans to sell off some of its drug-manufacturing rights and other assets to Merck's ($MRK) Brazilian unit. Report

> Sanofi ($SNY) plans to sell its Paris life sciences park to the public investment group Caisse de Depots in a two-stage deal to be wrapped up by 2015. Report

> Israel Corp. Chairman Amir Elstein will step down at the end of the year to join Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' ($TEVA) board as vice chair. Report

> Zogenix ($ZGNX) won FDA approval for a new 4 mg dose of its Sumavel migraine and cluster headache injection. Release

> Popular stomach-acid drugs known as proton-pump inhibitors are linked with an increased risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, which can lead to a variety of other health problems. Report (sub. req.)

> Endo Health Solutions ($ENDP) tapped Arthur Higgins to join its board of directors, while Joseph Scodari will retire from the board. Release

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Echo Therapeutics finds a China partner for its glucose monitor, satisfies an angry investor. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: Presenting, our latest issue of FierceDiagnostics--check it out, and tell a friend. Issue | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: Sanofi's Genzyme nets FDA priority review for its oral Gaucher pill. More from FierceDrugDelivery | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@GalenMoore: Imploding microbubbles give transdermal patch an edge over arthritis. Story | Follow @GalenMoore

> Ireland resists tougher EU device regulations. More

> LabCorp predicts another 'difficult' year in 2014 as revenues lag. Article

> After losing a $27M judgment to St. Jude Medical, AccessClosure touts a win. News

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Big Biopharmas help fuel $26M round for Sutro's antibody R&D work. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: GEN ranks VCs by total funds under management. Hmmmm. Feature via GEN | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: With fresh hopes and a bunch of new safety data, Orexigen is going back to the FDA with Contrave. Story | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: 1 in 100 cancers are associated with a particular gene mutation, according to a Sanger Institute study. Story from FierceBiotech Research  | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Avanir hits the skids after its pain drug flunks a mid-stage study. More

> Celgene chips in $20M to extend Agios cancer deal. Story

Diagnostics News

> French company unveils prenatal test based on licensed Sequenom tech. Story

> DioGenix's venture round fuels expanded trial for MS molecular Dx test. Report

> New Hologic CEO pledges to grow, and not sell, the women's health Dx company. More

> Foundation Medicine shows test's worth as a highly specific blood cancer screening tool. Article

> Invitae's $40M Series E adds rocket fuel to genetic test expansion plans. News

> Sequenta expands reach of ultrasensitive cancer Dx test. Item

Biomarkers News

> Biomarker points to aggressive breast cancer in black women. Story

> Cellular switch biomarker predicts prostate cancer's spread. Piece

> In China, lung cancer biomarker testing is on the rise. More

> Gene biomarker may determine whether some depression drugs will work. News

> New tech promises to speed up biomarker validation. Article

> Inflammatory marker presents a new target for obesity drug developers. Item

Drug Delivery News

> Alliqua CEO: Celgene deal vaults us to 'another level of respectability'. Article

> Protein 'crossing guard' carries Alzheimer's drug past the blood-brain barrier. More

> Imploding microbubbles give transdermal patch an edge for arthritis drugs. News

> Sanofi's Genzyme nets FDA priority review for its oral Gaucher pill. Report

> Rutgers team delivers RNA to weaken drug-resistant ovarian cancer. Story

> Swedish team: Omega-3 fatty acids cross blood-brain barrier for possible Alzheimer's treatment. Item

And Finally… A former Pfizer ($PFE) factory in Flushing, NY, has traded medicine for chocolate. Report