FiercePharma: AstraZeneca's cutting 1,150 sales jobs, about 24% of U.S. organization. Release | Follow @FiercePharma
> Hospira ($HSP) Chairman Christopher Begley will bow out at the end of the year, giving recently appointed CEO F. Michael Ball free rein to tackle the company's manufacturing problems. News
> Shire's ($SHPGY) Vyvanse, approved for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, delivered positive results as an add-on drug to improve cognition in patients with major depression. Item
> U.K. cost-effectiveness watchdogs have asked Merck ($MRK) for new data on its respiratory drug Daxas, saying it's likely to be used as an add-on therapy and should be studied in that context. Story
> Sinclair IS Pharma has agreed to buy Advanced Bio-Technologies for £20 million ($31.4 million) in cash and stock, gaining access to ABT's scar prevention and treatment product in more markets. Report
> Cubist Pharmaceuticals ($CBST) extended its offer for Adolor shares at $4.25 per share, saying 75% of the company's shares had been tendered during the first offering period. Article
> Amgen ($AMGN) said more than 98 million of its common shares were tendered in its $60-per-share modified Dutch auction. News
> AstraZeneca ($AZN) purchased 785,806 of its own shares at 2920 pence each as part of its stock buyback plan. Story
> Sun Pharmaceutical Industries founder and Chairman Dilip Shanghvi snapped up 3% of Natco Pharma as a personal investment. Report
> Watson Pharmaceuticals ($WPI) has launched a knockoff version of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' ($TEVA) birth control pill LoSeasonique. Item
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: 5 Innovative Michigan device/diagnostic companies. Fascinating tech profiled here by @FierceMedDev. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Auxilium (Xiaflex) gets a sales guy to run the company. Punch up sales, work a deal? Maybe. But what biotech isn't in play these days? | Follow @JohnCFierce
@MaureenFierce: Report: Cancer vaccines, flu vaccines, and pneumococcal vaccines will experience the most growth in coming years. | Follow @MaureenFierce
@FierceMedDev: Abbott starts trial to evaluate the Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold versus metallic DES. Release | Follow @FierceMedDev
> Roche, Novartis showcase game-changing breast cancer drug data. Article
> Affymax spikes after expert panel backs new anemia drug rival to Amgen. Story
Vaccines News
> Study: Afternoon vaccines may be better for babies. Report
> EU wants power to negotiate flu vaccine prices. Story
> Takeda unveils new vaccine business headed by Gates Foundation exec. News
> LigoCyte posts positive results from norovirus vaccine trial. Item
Manufacturing News
> Catalent to go disposable in new plant. News
> Analysts ponder takeover of ailing Hospira. Article
> CMO capacity expansions mirror market. Report
> FDA notes lack of Novartis exec response in 3-site warning. News
> Samsung, Biogen Idec team on biosimilars. Story
> Pfizer briefs NJ public on Superfund site cleanup. Item
And Finally... EU officials want joint-purchasing power on vaccines to push prices down and ensure access. Report