GSK asks to consolidate Zofran lawsuits; Prescriptions in England up 3.3% in 2014 thanks to Viagra, diabetes meds;

@FiercePharma: Got an idea for an FDA drug study? Send an email. Editor's corner | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Our Twitter chat is less than an hour off. Don't miss the discussion on #sustainedrelease with BASF expert Thorsten Cech. @BASF_Pharma | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: Roche's MS hopeful will amp up payer pricing pressure, analyst says. Article | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) has asked a federal judicial panel to consolidate a dozen lawsuits alleging that its antinausea medication Zofran can cause birth defects. More

> Bloodthinners, antidepressants, diabetes drugs and Viagra helped the number of prescriptions dispensed in England rise 3.3% last year. Report

> Eisai's epilepsy treatment Fycompa has launched in the U.K. Report

> In Israel, life sciences upstarts are struggling to follow the lead of local generics giant Teva ($TEVA). Story

> U.K. Chancellor George Osborne has committed to increasing NHS funding by £8 billion a year. More

> Pet pharmaceuticals group Dechra says its revenue for the year is up by about 10%. More

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: ICYMI yesterday: Mindray down on the acquisition of remainder of Chinese orthopedics company for $72.6M. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev

@EmilyWFierce: JAMA: Mammography does not reduce breast cancer deaths, could result in overdiagnosis. Story | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Theranos signs its first health insurer in a deal with Capital BlueCross. More

> Device makers to offer stronger guarantees on products if they fail to perform. Story

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Who should make this year's Fierce 15? Nominate the most promising private biotechs. Nomination form | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Novartis says Entresto will be priced at $12.50 a day. More | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Entresto, described by $NVS CEO Joe Jimenez as a "multi-blockbuster," is now approved to treat heart failure. More | Follow @DamianFierce

> Sanofi advances a one-shot malaria program as drug resistance spreads. Article

> AstraZeneca, Ironwood score PhIII success in China. Item

Biotech Research News

> UC San Diego accuses USC of conspiring to grab Alzheimer's research, funding. Report

> Computer scientists warn about the coming tsunami of genomics data. News

> Falsely accused 'Rambo' protein actually guards against heart failure. More

> UCSD researchers point to promising new drug target for glioblastoma. Story

> Researchers launch PhI study to test new approach to T cell immunotherapy. Article

Diagnostics News

> Theranos nabs FDA clearance for finger-stick herpes test. More

> BG Medicine gets FDA blessing for automated chronic heart failure test. Report

> Natera bags $180M in IPO to ramp up R&D. News

> Epic Sciences and LabCorp expand global reach with Asia clinical trials deal. Story

> Quest and Quintiles rev up new lab testing JV. Article

Pharma Marketing News

> Roche's MS hopeful will amp up payer pricing pressure, analyst says. News

> Bydureon, Invokana, Xarelto brand teams shelled out most to doctors in 2014. Article

> Merck, Samsung rack up data on Humira biosim, setting stage for approval apps. More

> Pfizer's Viagra first ED drug available in single-dose packets. Story

> Early Avycaz sales could signal bigger payoff for superbug-fighting antibiotics. Report

And Finally... CVS Health ($CVS) is withdrawing its membership from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce after media reports that the trade group was lobbying globally against antismoking laws. News