Lucentis helps diabetes with vision disorder; Lilly taps Mahoney to run cancer biz;

 @FiercePharma: Analysts reassess Merck-Schering merger. Story |  Follow @FiercePharma

> Roche's Lucentis helps improve the vision of diabetics suffering from a complication that can cause blindness, a late-stage trial has shown, the latest small boost for the Swiss drugmaker. Report

> Eli Lilly named company insider Sue Mahony as president of its cancer drug business; she had been in charge of HR and diversity at Lilly. Lilly release

> Specialty pharmaceutical company Sinclair Pharma is in advanced talks to buy IS Pharma in an all-share deal that creates a company worth over $200 million, based on Friday's closing prices. Item

> Scientists worried by waning commitment from major drugmakers to brain research warn the prospect for new drugs to treat diseases like Alzheimer's is bleak unless regulators and governments find incentives fast. Article

> Angiotech Pharmaceuticals said it has obtained debtor-in-possession financing from Wells Fargo Capital Finance. Report

> Biogen Idec reported a passive 8.1 percent stake in drug developer Aveo Pharmaceuticals, making it the second-largest holder in the smaller company. Story

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Dying breast cancer patient calls for personalized medicine. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: AcelRx prices IPO shares at $5, a far cry from its $12-$14 projected range. No products=limited interest. Item | Follow @JohnCFierce 

> Sanofi mulls $1.36B in eye drug deals as it nears Genzyme buy. News 

> Chimerix funds antiviral drug work with $45M round. Article 

> Adventrx to acquire SynthRx in all-stock deal. Item

> The new thinking going into early-stage cancer studies. Report 

> King, Acura pain drug granted priority review. Story 

Biotech IT News

> Trial automation ripe for changing of the guard. Report 

> Open R&D challenges big pharma innovation. Article 

> FDA saddles Orexigen with weighty data demand. Story 

> ClearTrial V4 lets users tailor ops benchmarks. News 

> Digital signature meets crypto time-stamp. Item 

Medical Devices News

> Hologic gets FDA OK for first 3-D Digital mammography system. News

> Report: Device industry could lose competitive edge. Story

> Kips Bay raises $16.5M in IPO. News

> J&J's Cordis lays off, merges sales staff. Report 

> Report: Bard to cut 200 jobs. Article 

> Arstasis arterial access device recalled for faulty parts. Item

> Bohuon to replace Illingworth at S&N. Story

And Finally... For some U.S. soldiers, powerful drug cocktails have deadly results. Report