Congress members ask Gilead CEO to justify Sovaldi's cost; EU recommends several drugs; Docs confess ignorance of biosimilars

@FiercePharma: Yesterday's top-read FiercePharmaManufacturing story: NVS CEO predicts generic industry fallout as quality takes center stage. More | Follow @FiercePharma

@TracyStaton: Contrary to popular belief, side-effect reports on new meds hit a steady pace, study finds. Story | Follow @TracyStaton

@EricPFierce: The FDA says it will boost foreign plant inspections 40%, and cut them by same amount in US. News | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: ICYMI yesterday: Arkansas court boots $1.2B J&J verdict on technical grounds. Article | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Gilead Sciences ($GILD) CEO John Martin has been asked by Congressional Democrats to explain how the company arrived at its $84,000 price for its break-through hepatitis C treatment Sovaldi, a drug that is already gaining wide use. Story

> Health Canada has awarded Biogen Idec's ($BIIB) new hemophilia B drug Alprolix its first approval. Release

> European regulators are recommending approval for Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly's ($LLY) latest diabetes drug, for which the FDA delayed approval earlier this month over manufacturing concerns. Story

> The EU also recommended approval of Takeda Pharmaceutical's treatment for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Story

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Is there such a thing as a 'gentle' colonoscopy device? Invendo thinks so--and brought in $28M for its new tool. Item | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: Qiagen hit the Chinese market with its next-gen TB test. Competition looms. More | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: ICYMI: MedImmune inks licensing deal with Bioasis for brain delivery platform. Story via FierceDrugDelivery | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@EmilyWFierce: Cochlear scored FDA approval for its innovative hearing aid system. Story | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Beleaguered Orthofix brings in a new chairman. More

> Yes, U.S. med tech recalls have doubled since 2003--but so has the market. Story

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Versartis grabs $126M in an upsized IPO to fund its orphan drug. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Merck, Endocyte score crucial EMA OK for conditional approval of vintafolide. More | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: EU smiles on Lilly and Boehringer's FDA-rejected diabetes drug. Article | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: Public-private Japanese partnership invests $15M in neglected diseases. Story | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Partnerless Aveo is back on the hunt as Biogen returns a cancer drug. Piece

> Novo says Tresiba's down but not out of the blockbuster diabetes race. Read

And Finally... In a new survey 22% of European doctors confess they are not "very familiar" with biosimilars, the biologic knock-offs that payers hope will be quickly accepted to cut healthcare costs. Story