China's diabetes growth could boost Merck, Sanofi, Novo; Novartis wins new Votubia approval;

@FiercePharma: FDA backs Boehringer Ingelheim's Pradaxa on safety. Big caution, though, in bold type: Use as directed. More | Follow @FiercePharma

> China's diabetes-drug market is swelling to $3.2 billion as it becomes the "world's capital" for the disease, opening opportunites for drugs from Merck ($MRK), Sanofi ($SNY) and Novo Nordisk ($NVO). Report

> Novartis ($NVS) won European approval for its cancer drug Votubia--sold as Afinitor in the U.S.--as a treatment for non-cancerous kidney tumors in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. Release | Report

> As a sister company to the meningitis-linked compounding pharmacy extended its shutdown, the FDA scrambled to fill supply gaps. Report

> A New York jury ordered Novartis ($NVS) to pay $10.45 million to a woman who suffered jawbone damage after taking its bone drug Zometa. Report

> Standard & Poor's assigned a BB- rating to Rottapharm's planned offering of €400 million ($511.5 million) in senior unsecured notes, calling the company's outlook "stable." Report

> A New Jersey judge refused to transfer RP Healthcare's antitrust case against Pfizer ($PFE) and Ranbaxy Laboratories to California. Report

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: Some regulatory decisions on devices and drugs may face delays. Blame Hurricane Sandy. More | Follow @FierceMedDev

 @MarkHFierce: More woes for Abiomed. Shareholders will now investigate the company's marketing and labeling of its Impella 2.5. More | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: The Indian clinical trial industry will continue to explode, but only if it cleans up its act, TOI says. More | Follow @DamianFierce

> For diabetics, bypass beats stents in massive 5-year study. Article

> New tech could harvest heartbeat to power pacemakers. Item

> Ishrak: Medtronic must establish economic value to drive growth. Story

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Merck finds pharma research results with online competition. More | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: BioMarin shares pop on strong pivotal data for rare disease drug. More | Follow @JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: Winners named in Merck's online competition involving pharma research, Kaggle blog. More | Follow @RyanMFierce

> FDA review endorses efficacy of Novartis' new drug for Cushing's disease. Story

> Ex-Pfizer crew snags $27M financing for U.K. drugs startup. News

> Experts rip chelation heart study despite a hint of efficacy. Article

Biotech IT News

> Roche seeks advances in cloud computing for cancer drug research. News

> Sanofi deal bolsters Medidata in record quarter for revenue. Article

> Titan slays Jaguar in computing comparison, open to R&D comers. Report

>Merck finds pharma research results with online competition. Story

CRO News

> Quintiles chief: CROs need to jump on sequencing bandwagon. Item

> GE pours $23M into Biocon's CRO as it plots public offering. Story

> Icon soars in Q3, plots NASDAQ jump. Report

> Cyprotex snags deal with Pfizer for toxicology. More

> Charles River pays $27M for majority of Chinese firm. News

And Finally... Suicide rates in the U.S. rose sharply during the economic crisis, a Lancet study found. Report