Dr. Reddy's is ready to buy OctoPlus shares; Tamiflu vaccine scandal rages in U.K.;

@FiercePharma: WSJ: Pfizer animal health IPO could happen next month. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

> Vanda Pharmaceuticals ($VNDA) has had its schizophrenia drug Fanaptum given a thumbs-down by the panel that makes recommendations to the European Commission. Story

> Dr. Reddy's offer to buy the shares of Netherlands-based OctoPlus begins today and runs through Feb. 8. Item

> A study casts doubt on the benefits of using a cannabis extract spray made by GW Pharmaceuticals for spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis. Story

> Australian pharmaceutical group Mayne Pharma says it intends to raise about $19 million so it can buy the morphine-based pain-relief product Kapanol from GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK). Item

> The controversy in the U.K. over the Tamiflu vaccine continues with some members of Parliament calling for a probe into the trials of the drug, which has been stockpiled globally since 2009. Story

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: InVivo Therapeutics is seeing an HDE for its biopolymer scaffolding product. Clinical trial starts in early 2013. News | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: Zoll says its "temperature management solution" device treated 17 pilgrims with heat stroke on their way to Mecca. More | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: Barack Obama has no interest in a delay on the 2.3% medical device tax. News | Follow @DamianFierce

> Study: Cardiac-arrest patients often endure debilitating mental fallout. Item

> Cheap Dx spots lung cancer mutation ripe for Pfizer drug. Story

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Genentech readies for groundbreaking $100M trial of Alzheimer's therapy. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Cowen out with list of top 10 potential surprises in '13; includes early OK on asfotase, restricting CRPC drugs to metastatic patients. List | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanFierce: EMA committee shoots down Sanofi's cholesterol drug mipomersen. News | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Cowen lists top 10 potential surprise catalysts for 2013. Report

> Roche gains blockbuster backing for breast cancer therapy in Europe. Story

And Finally... We note the passing of the 91-year-old N. Joseph Woodland, who envisioned the process on which the modern--and now ubiquitous--bar code is based, a technology that is essential to modern drugmaking. Obituary