Pfizer denies evading German VAT; IMS to buy rival market researcher SDI Health;

 @FiercePharma: Bristol-Myers recalls 65 more Avalide lots. Story | Follow @FiercePharma 

> Pfizer denied allegations that it may have evaded value added tax in Germany, following a Der Spiegel report that prosecutors are investigating whether the company failed to properly register business units in Germany, aiming to avoid taxes. Report

> IMS Health is buying rival market researcher SDI Health, solidifying its leading role as a provider of key data to the pharma industry. Article

> Indian generics maker Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said it is "disappointed" with a U.S. jury decision to stop the company from selling a generic version of hypertension drug Tarka in the country. Story

> The former executive director of the European Medicines Agency, Thomas Lonngren, is taking on an advisory role with the new European regulatory and market access business at consulting firm NDA Group. Story

> Johnson & Johnson is considering a fresh takeover approach for British artificial knee and hip maker Smith & Nephew, London's Sunday Times reported without citing sources. Report

> The most prominent trend in U.S. court verdicts in 2010 was a surge in jury awards against companies--including drugmakers--accused of putting defective products on the market. Item

> South Africa's leading drugmaker, Aspen Pharmacare, has wrapped up its buyout of Sigma Pharmaceuticals' drug business for some $900 million, which it has been pursuing since last year. Story

> Forest Laboratories posted a 53 percent jump in quarterly profit on higher sales of its Namenda Alzheimer's drug and lower expenses. Item

> French health minister Xavier Bertrand has now been linked to the controversy over the Mediator diabetes pill sold by Servier, which last week acknowledged an excess risk had existed that some patients could develop heart-valve damage. Report

> A major spurt in generic pharma sales is expected in EU countries such as Germany, France, the U.K., Italy and Austria, generics distributor GenMed Holding says. Article

Biotech News 

 @FierceBiotech: Big Biotech joins Big Pharma in hunt for biosimilars. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: The view from the JP Morgan: Plenty of (hard) work available in 2011. Article | Follow @JohnCFierce 

> Ariad shares soar after cancer drug clears late-stage trial hurdle. News

> J&J teams up with Sanford-Burnham on Alzheimer's pact. Item

> Feds' $1B antiterror drug development program yields little. Story 

> Immune cells' "master switch" offers blockbuster drug target. Report 

> Alexza shares plunge after it offers new timetable for AZ-004. Article 

Biotech IT News

> Social media multiply R&D input. News 

> ISMP list names legal drugs linked to violence. Story 

> Interview: Steve Friedman on NCI's trial group overhaul. Report 

Biotech Research News

> A new plan of attack against breast cancer stem cells. Story 

> Charities pick up slack as pharmaceutical funders. Item 

> Small biotechs suffer 'information underload' in journal access. Article 

> Researchers 'unzip' MRSA's armor for possible vaccine. Report 

> Bad times in pharma produce more-rounded researchers. News 

> MicroRNAs new treatment option for prostate cancer. Story 

Manufacturing News

> Records audit prompts Tylenol, Rolaids recalls. Article

> Rx-360 sounds alarm in glass particle recalls. Story 

> The Battered Brand: A Tylenol Recall Timeline. News 

> Genzyme maintains focus on remediation. Report 

> Report IDs specialty pharma trends. Item

And Finally... The U.K.'s National Health Service is running a contest to seek new methods for increasing patient compliance with their drug regimens. News