Canada taps Tamiflu stash to help Roche meet demand; Bayer nabs FDA approval for long-term contraceptive;

@FiercePharma: That pregnancy-drug/breast cancer liability suit? All wrapped. $LLY, 4 women reach deal on 2nd day of trial. More | Follow @FiercePharma

 @AlisonBFierce: A fast and early flu season here in the U.S. The CDC's weekly flu map looks grim. More | Follow @AlisonBFierce

> Caught unprepared by a wave of illness, Canada is getting into its stash of Tamiflu because Roche ($RHHBY) is uncertain that its manufacturing and supply chain can keep up with demand. Report

> Bayer won FDA approval for its new long-term contraceptive Skyla, an intrauterine system that releases low doses of levonorgestrel. Report

> ViroPharma lost another court bid to stop generic versions of its antibiotic Vancocin, as a federal judge dismissed the drugmaker's suit against FDA. Report

> Sanofi ($SNY) tapped its chief scientific officer, Gary Nabel, to chair its strategic development and scientific advisory council, designed to bring outside science into the company. Report

> Hikma Pharmaceutical agreed to buy the Egyptian Company for Pharmaceuticals and Chemical Industries (EPCI) for about $22.2 million, in an ongoing push to expand in that country. Report

> Canada's Jean Coutu Group, a pharmacy chain, saw profits grow 10% for its third quarter, lifted by strong sales at its generic drug unit Pro Doc. Report

> Sinclair IS Pharma expects first-half sales to hit £23 million ($36.9 million), up 4% year over year. Report

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: GI Dynamics, Gore call off legal dogs in patent fight. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: A "smart socket" to connect to limb stump could lead to better prosthetic fit. U.K. scientists are doing all the work. Item | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: At yesterday's FierceBiotech JPM13 panel, R&D experts debunked some Big Data myths and looked to a bright future. Editor's Corner | Follow @DamianFierce

> Ex-Orthofix manager gets home confinement in Medicare kickback case. Story

> This time, 'cautious optimism' at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. Editor's Corner

> Stryker: Hip device recalls could cost up to $390M. More

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: PATH, Inovio zero in on DNA malaria vaccine. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: GlaxoSmithKline commits venture $$$ to new $250M biotech startup fund--Sanderling 7, coming 9 years after the last one. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

> Ultragenyx snags another candidate for its rare disease drug pipeline. Article

> Teva tries to slow arrival of Biogen's competing MS blockbuster. News

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: That pregnancy-drug/breast cancer liability suit? All wrapped. $LLY, 4 women reach deal on 2nd day of trial. More | Follow @FiercePharma

 @AlisonBFierce: A fast and early flu season here in the U.S. The CDC's weekly flu map looks grim. More | Follow @AlisonBFierce

> Lilly settles suit linking old miscarriage drug to breast cancer. News

> Eyeing Biogen drug, Teva demands review for new MS meds. Story

> FDA backs tech to throw off painkiller addicts. Article

> Don't expect GSK to spin off ViiV anytime soon, R&D chief says. Report

Vaccines News

> Widespread, early flu season grips United States. Item

> HPV-related cancers up despite vaccines from Merck, GSK. Story

> Altravax pulls in $1.2M from NIH. Article

> Pfizer wins Prevenar 13 expansion in EU. News

> India's vaccine prices soar as private companies gain ground. Story

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Hikma acquisition lands 2 plants in Egypt. Report

> Canada taps Tamiflu stash to help Roche meet demand. Article

> FDA inspectors come down hard on Taiwan plant. News

> More plant closings for Valeant. Story

And Finally... A nonpartisan think tank proposes cost-effectiveness measures for the U.S. healthcare system that it says could save $2 trillion over the next decade. Report