Judge won't toss off-label claims against Novartis; Pfizer dangles 5% premium for Zoetis share swap;

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@EricPFierce: Who manufacturers the top selling diabetes treatments? Novo has 5 of top 10 but not the top two. Special report | Follow @EricPFierce

> A federal judge said Novartis ($NVS) has to face whistleblower claims that it promoted off-label use, some of it known to be harmful, of its atopic dermatitis drug Elidel. Report

> The cost of specialty drugs will boost healthcare spending in the coming years, offsetting the savings from a dwindling supply of new generic launches, PricewaterhouseCoopers says. Report

> Pfizer ($PFE) is offering shareholders a 5% premium to exchange their stock for shares of its animal health company Zoetis as the drugmaker spins off its remaining stake. Report

> The Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General said Medicare should do more to investigate doctors who prescribe drugs in potentially questionable or harmful ways. Report

> Cases of the cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) have plunged in girls and young women since Merck's ($MRK) Gardasil vaccine launched in 2006, a study found. Report

> A U.S. court determined that India's Zydus Cadila stepped on Takeda's patent for the drug Prevacid SoluTab. Report

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Wright selling off hip and knee biz for $290M. Report | Follow @FierceMedDev

@DamianFierce: Japan's Terumo is adding 400+ jobs in an Irish R&D expansion. Yesterday's story | Follow @DamianFierce

@MichaelGFierce: Biosensor nanoparticles deliver cancer drug with precise, 3-D imaging. More | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> Brainsway partners up to push anti-depression tech in U.S. Article

> Mayo joins Sanovas to develop lung-clearing asthma treatment. Story

> Atossa teams with Thermo to market 'Pap smear for breast cancer.' News

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: ICYMI this week's Industry Voices column - Ichorcumab: the blood of the gods? Feature | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: Sanofi - in need of some inspiration - partners with Curie Inst. on ovarian cancer targets. Release | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: After Sanofi winds down manufacturing in Dagenham, U.K., what are the chances of a vibrant startup scene emerging there? More | Follow @RyanMFierce

 @EmilyMFierce: Biopharma tweeps, connect with colleagues and the editors of @FierceBiotech by joining our new LinkedIn group. | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Cardio3 targets big cardio-drug market with small IPO. Item

> Biotech M&A buzz: Forest, others weigh offers for Elan. More

> PTC overcomes repeated setbacks to raise $125M in IPO. Report

> GlaxoSmithKline fuels VC fund as part of rare diseases blitz. Article

Vaccines News

> CDC finds vaccines halved HPV infections in teenage girls. Report

> GSK's rotavirus vaccine as effective as Merck shot. Item

> Tax loophole eyed ahead of launch of Sanofi, GSK, AstraZeneca quadrivalent shots. More

> HPV vaccine pioneer targeting skin cancer jab. Story

> Japan withdraws recommendation of Merck and GSK HPV jabs. Article

> CDC readies for 4-in-1 flu vaccines. More

Pharma Manufacturing News

> GSK, Pfizer help start effort researching manufacturing innovations. Story

> Brazil to build Protalix a plant as part of sophisticated tech transfer. News

> Sanofi plant in London set to close by end of month. Article

> Gilead recalls 20 batches of AmBisome due to possible contamination. Report

And Finally... A respiratory virus that recently emerged in Saudi Arabia spread with chiling ease to ill patients in the hospital, an investigation found. Report