Broker pleads guilty to passing insider info on Gilead's Pharmasset deal; J&J gets private-equity offers for diagnostics biz;

@FiercePharma: It's official: Roche's Perjeta nabs speedy  nod in early breast cancer. Kadcyla next? Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@CarlyHFierce: Bristol-Myers melanoma drug Yervoy helps patients live years longer, study finds. ICYMI yesterday | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> A former Morgan Stanley financial adviser pleaded guilty to insider trading after tipping off a friend about Gilead Sciences' ($GILD) plan to buy Pharmasset for $11.2 billion in 2011. Report

> Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) reportedly received offers from major private equity firms for its Ortho Clinical Diagnostics unit. Report | More from FierceMedicalDevices

> Sanofi ($SNY) CEO Christopher Viehbacher told reporters in Mumbai that he expects global pricing pressures to continue. Report

> Mylan ($MYL) rolled out a generic version of Pfizer's ($PFE) antifungal liquid, Vfend oral suspension. Release

> What's tough for branded drugmakers is good for drugstore profits: Walgreen ($WAG) profits beat estimates on increased use of generic drugs. Report

> Teva Pharmaceutical Industries ($TEVA) launched its generic version of the AbbVie ($ABBV) drug for hyperparathyroidism in kidney patients, Zemplar. Report

> Prescription drug use among U.S. seniors has reached a plateau, and per-capita market growth in this age group is expected to slow. Report

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev:  | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: Two U.S. insurers will now cover MDxHealth's prostate cancer Dx test--a major win. It's hard to get coverage. Press release | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: MIT nanoparticles help deliver vaccines to mucosal surfaces. More from FierceDrugDelivery | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> PerkinElmer expands MA life sciences research presence. Article

> Report: Blackstone, Bain, other equity firms bid for J&J's Dx unit. More

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Most popular story on our website in Sept.: In big setback, GlaxoSmithKline's cancer immunotherapy MAGE-A3 flunks PhIII goal. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Pretty clear that Perlmutter now becomes the head wheeler dealer at Merck. Good role for him. Buying and selling. | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Amid all this talk of axing jobs, have a look at FierceBiotech's rundown of just how much R&D chiefs get paid. Top 15 highest paid biopharma R&D chiefs | Follow @DamianFierce

> Serial NC startup team eyes another deal with latest biotech. More

> Struggling Merck slashing 8,500 jobs in major R&D, commercial reorganization. News

> Geron unloads its stem cell coffers to BioTime in stock deal. Story

> Shutdown looming, FDA approves new depression drug from Lundbeck, Takeda. Article

Biotech Research News

@EmilyMFierce: What happens to the FDA in a government shutdown? ICYMI from FierceBiotech | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> New approach could treat common childhood brain cancer. Report

> Antidepressants could provide new way to treat deadly lung cancer. More

> Antifungal drug abolishes HIV in cells. Article

> New approach could treat common childhood brain cancer. Story

> Evolva in talks with U.S. government for $14.7M antibacterial contract. Item

Pharma Manufacturing News

@EricPFierce: Growing Bayer HealthCare gets new leader. Pfizer exec Olivier Brandicourt takes over top job Nov. 1. ICYMI from FiercePharma | Follow @EricPFierce

> Legislation defines when FDA can take action against compounders. Story

> GSK opens $40M plant in Cork, Ireland, adding 20 jobs. More

> Merck joins Bahrain venture. News

> FDA plant inspections continue, even in government chaos. Item

> Boehringer Ingelheim Shanghai plant tripling capacity. Article

And Finally... Should vaccine makers resurrect the Lyme disease shot that mired GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) in trouble more than a decade ago? Report (sub. req.)