FDA chief Hamburg preps for India trip; Questcor taps new CFO; Hungary's Richter eyes a tough 2014;

@FiercePharma: New chief expands Novo team for stepped-up assault on U.S. diabetes market. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@TracyStaton: Gilead in talks with Indian drugmakers to sell Sovaldi at cut-rate prices. Report | Follow @TracyStaton

@EricPFierce: My colleague Mark Hollmer offers a thoughtful analysis of pacemakers after having one put in. Check it out. More | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: More Humira sales gains help AbbVie meet forecasts. News | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg will jet to India next week to meet with her regulatory counterparts there; the agency recently hired a local man to head up its new office in the country. Release

> Questcor Pharmaceuticals ($QCOR) tapped Rajesh Asarpota as its new chief financial officer, as its current CFO, Michael Murphy, moves into a new job as EVP of strategic affairs and general counsel. Report

> Hungary's Richter posted weak results for the fourth quarter and predicted a decline in revenue and profits for the year ahead. Report

> Embattled Indian drugmaker Ranbaxy Laboratories benefited from sales of two acne drugs in its most recent quarter, narrowing its loss to about $25 million. Report

> Pernix Therapeutics ($PTX) hired former Alvogen CEO Doug Drysdale to take the reins of its company as chairman and CEO, and attracted $65 million in debt financing from an investor consortium led by Athyrium Capital. Release

> Canadian regulators gave Merck & Co. ($MRK) its first approval for a new immunotherapy for grass allergies, Grastek. Release | Report

> Denmark-based Genmab said its leukemia drug Arzerra hit £18.8 million ($30.5 million) in sales for the fourth quarter, with full-year sales at almost £75 million ($122 million); it is expecting a royalty payment from partner GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK). Release

> The founder of New Zealand's biggest drugmaker, Douglas Pharmaceuticals, Sir Graeme Douglas, announced his retirement. Report (sub. req.)

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Edwards wins wider use for older model Sapien heart valve in Europe. More | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: Thoratec's HeartMate revenue growth is certainly not what it once was. Story | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: Check out today's special report: The top drug delivery partnerships of 2013. Report | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@EmilyWFierce: CVS takes cigarettes off the shelf, despite projected dip in profits. Article | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> GE sells off Breas Medical to PBM Capital. More

> Myriad's revenue soars, with further gains expected from $270M Crescendo buy. Story

> Pfizer will use Ichor Medical Systems devices for cancer vaccine development. Item

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Purdue launches $12M tit-for-tat fund to seed new biotechs. More | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: We're seeing a mix of upsized IPO successes with some disappointments as well. Seems the theme for biotech's Q1 biotech. More | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: In the next two years, $GSK expects 6 PhIII readouts and 10 PhIII starts. Release (pdf) | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: A new strain of avian flu in China has killed one woman and infected at least one another. Story via Washington Post | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Merck loops Pfizer, Amgen and Incyte in on MK-3475 immunotherapy deal spree. News

> GlaxoSmithKline reloads its pipeline with new PhIII drugs following approvals, setbacks. Story

Drug Delivery News

> The top drug delivery partnerships of 2013. Special Report

> Oramed touts PhIIa insulin pill study results; analysts say 'Prove it.' Story

> Microchip coated with cells gives insight into nanoparticle penetration. Article

> Regulus renews Sanofi microRNA pact to focus on orphan, cancer treatments. Story

> Novo Nordisk taps Zosano's microneedle patch for diabetes drug delivery. News

> Pfizer snags electroporation device license from Ichor for cancer vaccine delivery. News

Diagnostics News

> Israeli team finds that diabetes Dx can also screen for at-risk patients. Story

> Myriad Genetics jumps into RA Dx with its $270M Crescendo Bioscience deal. News

> Loyola team zeroes in on two biomarkers linked to an infant bowel disorder. Article

> Thermo Fisher's revenue climbs as U.S. regulators clear $13.6B Life Tech buy. Story

> NeoGenomics' 22 cancer tests hit the market. Item

> The next possible stroke biomarker might be oxidized LDL. Story

Pharma Marketing News

> Digital agencies use ice cream, quirky tees to woo talent away from rivals. Item

> New chief expands Novo team for stepped-up assault on U.S. diabetes market. News

> How fast can Gilead's hep C star go from zero to $6 billion? Story

> That drug's got personality. But is it 'original,' 'dependable' or both? Article

> As doctors get device-happy, reaching them is a 3-pronged strategy. Story

> UCB nabs Asian marketing rights to hot Biogen MS drugs. News

And Finally... Get more sleep, be more productive. It might boost the economy. Report