Roche's Avastin stiff-armed by NICE again; Pfizer wins Japanese OK for Xeljanz;

 @FiercePharma: Pfizer tuberculosis drug hits FDA shortage list, with other TB remedies already scarce. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

 @EricPFierce: Momenta's Kaundinya doesn't mind some regulatory chaos in biosimilars. It allows industry to help shape pathway. Special Report | Follow @EricPFierce

> Roche's ($RHHBY) Avastin was again rebuffed by the U.K.'s cost-effectiveness watchdogs as a treatment for ovarian cancer. Report

> Pfizer ($PFE) won Japanese approval for its new rheumatoid arthritis drug Xeljanz, which got the FDA's thumbs up in November. Report

> Actavis won FDA approval for its version of the Reckitt Benckiser opioid dependency drug Suboxone, despite the branded maker's attempts to block it. Report

> Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) recalled 1.9 million blood-sugar meters after a patient died after an inaccurate reading. Report

> Novartis ($NVS) sold its chemo-toxicity fighter Cardioxane to Clinigen, which believes it can revitalize the drug, for $33 million. Report

> South Africa's Cipla Medpro said its fiscal year earnings dropped 32%, despite a 30% increase in revenue to R2,297 billion, or about $248 million. Report

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: Merck IUD lot hit with Hong Kong recall. Report | Follow @FierceMedDev

 @MarkHFierce: A multi-gene sequencing cancer Dx test is hitting the U.K. health system, thanks to the NHS. More | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic are developing a breath-based diagnostic to detect heart failure. Story | Follow @DamianFierce

> PrimeraDx teams with Quest for companion diagnostics. More

> TriReme allies with major China distributor for PAD devices. Story

> J&J recalls LifeScan glucose meters over shutdown risk. Report

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: From FierceBiotechResearch.com: Researchers find possible cause of neuron dysfunction in Alzheimers. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: Another one bites the dust: Phytopharm slashes staff, scouts buyers after Parkinson's drug failure. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: The top 10 moneymakers in Pharma, ordered by revenue and described in context: More | Follow @RyanMFierce

> PRACS' CRO implosion leaves a Who's Who of biopharma creditors in its wake. Story

> Headed into PhIII, Lundbeck scores $825M Alzheimer's drug pact with Otsuka. Report

> Ziopharm sharpens budget ax after cancer drug palifosfamide flops in PhIII. News

Pharma Manufacturing News

> FDA fast-tracks plant for injectable on shortage list. More

> India state ups effort to root out counterfeits. Story

> Form 483 lays out latest issues dragging down Hospira. Report

> Sanofi, Transgene split cost of specialized manufacturing. Article

> Actavis puts $40M into Florida plant. More

Biotech Research News

 @EmilyMFierce: Could a canker sore treatment be the next weight-loss drug? More | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> UMD scientists test new bird flu vaccine in animals. Report

> Astellas strikes deals to hunt for dengue fever therapies. More

> New database could be a boon for genomics research. Story

> Tiny wireless sensor moves brain research forward. Item

And Finally... Tufts University microbiologists identified the resistance mechanisms E. coli use to defy carbapenem antibiotics. Report