@FiercePharma: Top drugmakers report payments of $150M to 165K docs so far this year, FT finds. Last full year: $437M. Report | Follow @FiercePharma
> Novartis ($NVS) has hired Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to lobby in Washington about vaccines after spending $3.6 million on lobbying during the first half of this year. News
> Novartis' ($NVS) Alcon unit in the U.S. sued Apotex to block a generic version of the allergy-fighting nasal spray Patanase. Report
> A Google ($GOOG) shareholder has sued the company and its board, claiming they breached fiduciary duties by running the online pharmacy ads that led to a $500 million settlement with the U.S. government. Story
> After investing $650 million in Vodafone and eyeing pharma investments in U.S. and Europe, Piramal is looking at bidding for India's Future Capital, the financial services arm of Future Group. Article
> In Europe, 95% of doctors go online for professional reasons, and the same percentage uses handheld devices to download apps and access medical information. Item
> BASF plans to increase prices for generic APIs and pharmaceutical excipients by 10% beginning Sept. 1. Report
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: Actelion drug macitentan flunks PhII but safety data bolsters confidence in blockbuster PhIII. News | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: The Guardian runs down a litany of biotech failures, challenges and ends on a quick 'up' note regarding collaborations. Piece | Follow @JohnCFierce
@RyanMFierce: New Facebook app "PiggyDemic," from scientists at Tel Aviv University, aims to simulate how viruses spread and mutate. Item | Follow @RyanMFierce
@MaureenFierce: Adimab adds Novo, Biogen Idec to roster of antibody partners. Story | Follow @MaureenFierce
> NuPathe shares in meltdown after FDA rejects migraine patch app. Article
> FDA highlights new tech to monitor trials. News
> New R&D culture at GSK forces a challenging showdown. Story
> Niche cancer drugs highlight the targeting trend in R&D. Item
> U.K.'s biotech stars may be fading, but new hopefuls. Report
> Bleeding risk spikes for Astellas's PhII anticoagulant. Article
Biotech Research News
> JHU researchers have a full platelet of blood-clotting research. More
> Researchers find new clues into spread of influenza B. News
> A possible solution found for TTR-related amyloid diseases. Report
> So, a needle-pulling-thread is outdated, doc goes sutureless. Article
> Patient in stem-cell treatment for MS reports improvement. Details
> Researchers dream up a new cause for narcolepsy. Story
Manufacturing News
> Sabotage suspected in U.K. painkiller case. News
> Distributor plans to excise supply chain links. Story
> WHO committee report keeps pharma current. Brief
> Abbott taps manufacturing smarts in Haiti rebuild. Details
> Venus warning letter belies poor 483 response. Article
> Time to put the innovation into manufacturing. More
> U.S. tax reform or not, offshore beckons. Report
And Finally... Scientists found a genetic variant linked to liver cancer in hepatitis C carriers. News