Cubist hikes sales 23% on Cubicin growth; Bayer submits new eye drug for Japanese OK;

@FiercePharma: Eli Lilly's 2013 profits forecast surpasses analyst predictions. What gives? More | Follow @FiercePharma

 @AlisonBFierce: What's the buzz? Big Pharma may be on the verge of a buying spree. News | Follow @AlisonBFierce

> Cubist Pharmaceuticals ($CBST) boosted sales in 2012 by 23%, ending the year with $926.4 million in revenue, thanks to double-digit growth in sales of its Cubicin antibiotic. Report

> Bayer submitted its vision treatment VEGF Trap-Eye, sold as Eylea in the U.S., to Japanese regulators for approval in patients with a type of macular edema. Release

> Vivus ($VVUS) shares rose on news that the company shipped almost 13,000 prescriptions for its new weight-loss drug Qsymia for the four weeks ended Dec. 21. Report

> Dr. Reddy's, in the process of buying the Dutch drugmaker OctoPlus, bought up 80% of the company's shares for about 27.4 million euros. Report

> Malaysia is emerging as a major manufacturing hub for Indian pharmaceutical companies eager to expand their businesses in Southeast Asia. Report

> The Pentagon's soaring drug expenses could threaten national security, a report suggests. Report

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: Johnson & Johnson's first vaginal mesh trial revs up this week. More | | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: Illumina is grabbing Verinata Health for $350M-plus. The buy gets it into fetal Dx business. Story | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: Unregulated clinical trials are wreaking "havoc" in India, the supreme court says. News | Follow @DamianFierce

> SeraCare refocuses energies on in vitro Dx work. Item

> EndoChoice grabs $45M to back merger with Israeli GI startup. Story

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Indian supreme court: Unregulated trials causing 'havoc'. More | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: As Big Pharma falters, Big Biotech helps fill a $100B "gap." Editor's Corner | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: Boehringer doesn't want $LLY's basal insulin analog anymore, amends big diabetes pact. News | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Biotech buyout buzz swells as industry's dealmakers flock to JPMorgan confab. Story

> Gilead and biotech strike antibody deal worth north of $1.1B--maybe. News

> Cubist jumps on to Heptares' growing GPCR bandwagon. Article

Biotech IT News

> Quants collaborate on forecasting value of genomics in medicine. Story

> Is FDA keeping social media from taking flight in pharma? Editor's Corner

> Abbott spinoff AbbVie starts social media effort from scratch. Article

> Agilent unit picks up lab software rights to fuel cancer diagnostics biz. News

CRO News

> WCCT partners with U.S.'s largest trial registry on patient adherence. Article

> Questcor snags CMO BioVectra for $50.7M. News

> Cellular Dynamics signs on with AstraZeneca for drug discovery. Story

> Indian supreme court: Unregulated trials causing 'havoc'. Report

> Clinical Network Services buys CRO Beltas. Item

And Finally... Is the National Center for Drug Free Sport stringent enough to deter athletes from doping? Report (sub. req.)