Buybacks could pressure European pharma ratings; FTC wants more from Roche on Illumina bid;

@FiercePharma: Interesting Bloomberg piece on Austrian who made his millions off drug-price differences in U.K. and EU. Article | Follow @FiercePharma

> Moody's Investor Service advised that a handful of European pharmas--including Roche ($RHHBY), Sanofi ($SNY), Novartis ($NVS), GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK), and AstraZeneca ($AZN)--could see their ratings suffer on stock buybacks. Report

> The Federal Trade Commission asked Roche for more information on its attempt to buy the gene-sequencing firm Illumina ($ILMN). Report

> Jordan's Hikma Pharmaceutical saw results suffer in last spring's political unrest in the Middle East, but it's expecting improvement on new governments' spending on healthcare. Report

> Elan is selling some $381 million worth of Alkermes ($ALKS) stock gained in its sale of Elan Drug Technology, taking its stake down to 6%. Report

> Forest Laboratories ($FRX) sued three generics makers over their plans to sell a generic version of its Bystolic blood-pressure drug. Report

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Okairos launches pioneering mid-stage study of promising hep C vaccine. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Troubled Marina Biotech does a DNAi discovery deal with scads of biobucks involved. Release | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: An interesting skeptic's take on the promise of DNA sequencing personalizing healthcare. Story | Follow @RyanMFierce

@FierceMedDev: Chicago hospital doctors say iPads raise their efficiency, via Fox News. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev

> Langer upstart rakes in fresh venture cash for mucus-targeting drugs. Article

> Sir Chris Evans inspires creation of a £100M Welsh biotech fund. News

> Your name here: Max Planck Florida shops naming rights for $10M. More

> Animal rights groups in U.K. blockade supply routes for researchers. Story

> Marina inks $14M discovery pact with ProNAi. Item

Medical Device News

> Medtronic faces more shareholder ire over Infuse. More

> ViewRay closes $45M Series C. News

> Boston Sci, Vodafone partner on mobile health monitoring. Story

> Cease implanting metal hips, U.K. doctors urge. More

> Everist launches companion Dx, prognostics portfolio for colorectal cancer. News

Biomarkers News

> Inflammatory protein marks heart disease. Item

> Researchers find 5 Crohn's disease markers in Ashkenazi Jews. Story

> New biomarkers could mean a blood test for autism. More

> Chikungunya could identify high-risk patients. Article

> Genetic mutation links with age in neuroblastoma. Story

> Nuclea Bio hunts prostate markers. Item

Drug Delivery News

> Kala Pharmaceuticals, co-launched by MIT's Langer, snags $6.2M. News

> InflammaGen drug delivery weapon targets self-digestion in Phase II trial. Article

> Scientists harness molecular 'transporter' to boost drug delivery prowess. Story

And Finally... Statin drugs' potential for triggering muscle fatigue may be most pronounced in people who exercise, a rat study finds. Report