FDA taps acting generics chief in wake of Geba's exit; Boehringer, Lilly launch new Trajenta trial;

@FiercePharma: Krystexxa sales still aren't taking off. Savient says Q4 sales of gout drug only up to $4.7M from $3M. Report | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Italy's the 2nd largest API maker behind China, says Italian expert. Who would have guessed it? India is 3rd. More | Follow @EricPFierce

> FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg picked Dr. Kathleen Uhl to serve as acting chief of the agency's generic drugs office; she replaces her former boss, Dr. Gregory Geba, who resigned last week. Report

> Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly ($LLY) launched a late-stage trial of their diabetes drug Trajenta in patients with kidney damage. Report

> Drug sales in France are expected to continue shrinking this year as the government cuts healthcare spending. Report

> AstraZeneca ($AZN) may consider leasing three lab buildings in Delaware, rather than demolishing them as originally planned, local officials said. Report

> A real estate developer may buy Bayer HealthCare's campus near Wayne, NJ, to market it as an office and R&D facility. Report

> Officials in Malta are working with Actavis to find jobs for the 65 workers laid off there earlier this month. Report

> Worried about their own insurance costs, Texas business groups are lobbying Gov. Rick Perry to sign on to President Obama's Medicaid expansion. Report

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Amgen scores PhIII success with BioVex virus against melanoma. More | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: AstraZeneca feels sting of union backlash against R&D upheaval. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: Merck slashes data-management costs with China site. Article | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Volatile BioLineRx shares decimated by PhII/III schizophrenia drug failure. Story

> Lone Star biotech banks $11.4M for PhII orphan drug odyssey. Article

> Amgen scores PhIII success with BioVex virus against melanoma. News

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: Post-PMA, Cardiovascular Systems pursues public offering. More | Follow @FierceMedDev

 @MarkHFierce: Spurned by Illumina, Roche may have found a new gene sequencer/Dx company to love. But at what price? Story | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: With election long passed, device tax lobbyists ply Dems. Article | Follow @DamianFierce

> Sorin eyes FDA approval with heart device trial. Article

> SynCardia snags $19M for artificial heart. Report

Biomarkers News

> Luminex to collaborate with Merck on Alzheimer's biomarker diagnostic. Report

> Mount Sinai wins $5M to study vocal disorder biomarkers. Item

> Pee in a cup to diagnose gastroesophageal cancer. More

> GenoMine test spots three new kidney cancer biomarkers. Article

> Texas research team spots Barrett's esophagus biomarkers. Story

Drug Delivery News

@MichaelGFierce: Spectrum picks up orphan cancer drug with stabilized delivery. More | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> New nanomed reduces inflammation in injured tissue by natural means. Story

> Delivery gel releases drugs in response to pressure. More

> Shire bets on PhII protein-delivery therapy to fight infant blindness. Article

> Needle-free ear infection patch delivers bacteria-killing vaccine. Item

And Finally... Several grocery chains have pledged not to sell genetically engineered salmon. Report