Novartis malaria pill wins WHO backing; GSK ships U.S. flu shots in move to quadrivalent-only supply;

@FiercePharma: FDA may tap $GOOG to beef up drug-safety monitoring. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Gallant Pharma owner notified in jail by #FDA he is disbarred for life from the pharma industry. Item | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: Dont you dare think for a second that I passed up the chance to discuss the $GSK wolf grandma on @FierceBiotech Radio. Listen | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> The World Health Organization prequalified Novartis' ($NVS) new, stronger combo malaria treatment Coartem, opening the drug up for broad-scale sales to the public sector. Release

> GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) shifted its U.S. flu vaccine supply entirely to quadrivalent versions; the 2015-2016 Fluarix shots started shipping out Thursday, and the company hopes to launch Flulaval Quadrivalent next month. Release

> Swedish Orphan Biovitrum paid $10 million to Alprolix partner Biogen Idec ($BIIB) to take over final development and commercialization of the drug in Europe and a variety of other international markets. Release

> Lifting sanctions against Iran could help drugmakers do business in the country because it would make financing transactions easier. Report

> Merz Pharma won Health Canada Approval for a version of its dermal filler Radiesse that includes the pain reliever Lidocaine. Release

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: ICYMI: Courtagen reels in $20M for genetic pediatric neurology disorder tests. Story  | Follow @FierceMedDev

@EmilyWFierce: Boom in specialty pharma business draws questions from consumers, lawmakers and patient advocates. NYT story | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Alere keeps diagnostics ball rolling with new deals and quick strep test win. News

> Survey: Docs expect HeartWare's blood pump to get expanded indication from FDA despite worrying trial data. More

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Biopharma's 10 highest-paid heads of R&D. Feature | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Chatted a bit with Immunocore's CEO, also chairman of MedCity, about global/UK #biotech $$$. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

> Five Prime bets up to $452.5M on Inhibrx's cancer antibodies. More

> Playing defense, Baxalta makes its case for a new hemophilia drug. News

> Blazing biotech IPO market continues to deliver a fortune for startups. Story

Vaccines News

> GSK, bioCSL to increase flu vaccine deliveries to U.S. More

> Reuters: WHO, EMA likely to approve GlaxoSmithKline's malaria vaccine despite challenges. News

> GSK and J&J/Bavarian Nordic take Ebola candidates to Senegal, Europe. More

> Expect vaccines market to swell to $40B by 2020: Tufts CSDD. Article

> EMA to again place HPV vaccines under its safety lens. Story

CRO News

> Icon and Covance bet on diagnostics with a pair of cancer deals. More

> Aptuit scales up its production prowess for Phase III trials. News

> Frontage buys into biometrics with BDM deal. Report

> Under new ownership, Synexus expands across Europe. Story

> WuXi bets $50M on a new venture fund and eyes $200M more. Article

Pharma Manufacturing News

> GSK ramps up flu vax production after problems last year. News

> American Health Packaging pulls thousands of Wockhardt-made products from the market. Story

> Mylan issues third reminder that 'lifesaving' syringes are being recalled. More

> J&J expects Fort Washington, PA, consumer plant to be back on line soon. Story

> Pfizer announces it will shutter India plant, echoing same news from Sandoz. Article

Pharma Asia News

> India's biopharma woes grow with FDA Emcure plant ban. More

> Japan's Takeda files ixazomib NDA for relapsed multiple myeloma. Report

> WuXi Healthcare Ventures plucks $50M from WuXi PharmaTech as anchor for second fund. Article

> Price controls fail to improve poor people's access to medicines in India, IMS report says. Story

> CFDA eyes new Shanghai evaluation center to speed drug approvals. More

And Finally... Two studies backed new cholesterol guidelines that would open up statin use to large numbers of people. Report