Hamburg speaks out on 'sequestration' affects on FDA; Jazz gets new patent for narcolepsy drug;

 @FiercePharma: Citi says lax cash management costs Big Pharma big bucks. Item | Follow @FiercePharma

> FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg expressed concerns as to what automatic budget cuts might mean to the agency if Congress can't span its current deficit reduction impasse. Item

> An FDA reviewer has recommended the agency approve Cornerstone Therapeutics' drug lixivaptan for low sodium levels due to a condition that causes the body to hold excess water, but says the drug should not be approved for heart failure patients, which the company had also sought. Item

> Generic drugmaker Dr. Reddy's Laboratories has launched a generic drug of AstraZeneca's ($AZN) Toprol-XL for treating high blood pressure. Item 

> Spectrum Pharmaceutical has hired former Amgen ($AMGN) exec Ken Keller as its chief operating officer and put him in charge of its pharmaceutical, medical, clinical and commercial operations. Story

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Enzyme deletion slashes Alzheimer's plaque production. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: Impressive. Sweden investing $320M in biotech, mostly Stockholm-Uppsala region. Release | Follow @JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: AstraZeneca and Broad team up on discovery of infectious disease drugs. Add to long list of pharma/academia tie-ups. More | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Sweden commits $320M to support ambitious biotech efforts. Article

> FDA review backs Cornerstone's new heart drug - with a hitch. News

> Is there an Alzheimer's Act II in the cards for bapi, solanezumab? More

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: Exagen raised $5.3M for Dx development. News | Follow @FierceMedDev

 @MarkHFierce: As the House looks to IRS implementation of the device tax, AdvaMed continues to fight it. Release | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: GE touts positive Phase III for its next-gen Alzheimer's imaging agent. Next step: FDA application. More | Follow @DamianFierce

> FDA rejects Navidea's app for cancer diagnostic aid. Story

> Welch Allyn plans to slash 275 jobs, blames device tax. Report

Biotech Research News

> Personalized lung cancer treatments are already out there, researchers conclude. Story

> Respiratory virus tried as targeted cancer treatment. More

> StemCells wins $20M grant to fuel preclinical Alzheimer's treatment advance. Report

> Swedish scientists to test gene therapy for excessively high bone density. Item

Pharma Manufacturing News

> FDA's Woodcock changing up drug quality oversight. Item

> CSL secures U.S. contract to supply flu vaccine antigens. More

> Ipsen keeps up Increlex supply amid Lonza plant failures. Article

> Environmental fights drive China's Harbin to uproot drug factory. Report

And Finally... Jazz Pharmaceuticals says it has secured patent number 10 for its narcolepsy drug, Xyrem. Release