Roche's MabThera gets green light in Scotland; J&J sues BI unit over arbitration disagreement; China's diabetes problem continues to grow;

@FiercePharma: GSK unloading drinks brands to Japan's Suntory for $2.1B. ICYMI yesterday | Follow @FiercePharma

@CarlyHFierce: New FDA guidance on generics for combo inhaled drugs is bad news for GSK/Advair. Article | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Cost regulators have given the green light to Roche's ($RHHBY) MabThera (also known as Rituxan) and Otsuka's Abilify, among others, for use in Scotland's National Health Service. Report

> Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) sued a unit of Boehringer Ingelheim over whether a dispute over an agreement must be heard by an arbitrator. Item

> South African's government has drafted drug patent reforms that, if accepted, could increase competition and lower the cost of medicines in the country. Story

> KKR is likely to buy stake in Hyderabad-based Gland Pharma, a report says. Item

> The medical school at Canada's Western University and a major hospital in London, Ontario, Canada, have launched a probe into allegations that a pharma company exerted "undue influence" on the school's ophthalmology department. Story

> Italy's Recordati has agreed to acquire Spanish pharma company Laboratorios Casen Fleet S.L.U. for €93 million ($123 million). Item

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Intuitive's surgical robots slammed in another study. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev

@DamianFierce: Another FDA roadblock for Guided Therapeutics and its cervical scanner. Article | Follow @DamianFierce

@MarkHFierce: NanoString is ramping up the U.S. commercial launch for its breast cancer prognostic Dx. Item | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: CeQur closes $27M round to fund insulin delivery device. More from FierceDrugDelivery | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> Why was J&J's latest metal hip liability trial delayed two weeks? Story

> Consumer group demands warranties for hip, knee implants. More

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Merck R&D chief spotlights streamlining, biologics and the new risk strategy. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: You can add real estate to AstraZeneca's (long) list of bad investments. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

@Ry_McBride: Busy Biogen Idec fuels Amicus in Parkinson's drug chase. More | Follow @Ry_McBride

> Remicade knockoff delivers pioneering antibody biosimilar OK for Hospira, Celltrion. Story

> Roche's cancer immunotherapy quest spurs $422.5M Inovio combo deal. Article

> Neurocrine shares damaged by low-dose drug pratfall in PhIIb. Story

> Cold Spring Harbor Lab names Teri Willey as new BD chief. Item

Biotech Research News

@EmilyMFierce: Drug combo could treat deadly coronavirus. More | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Immune cell discovery could help fight diabetes, arthritis, MS. Story

> Amicus, Biogen Idec form Parkinson's drug development pact. News

> Potential Parkinson's-fighting compounds identified. Article

> Compound restores learning deficits in Down syndrome mice. More

> Advaxis treatment stops HPV tumor growth, extends survival in animals. Item

Pharma Manufacturing News

@EricPFierce: J&J recalls infant Motrin after API found to have tiny plastic bubbles. Story | Follow @EricPFierce

> India's economic meltdown pushes Biocon to build elsewhere. Story

> Piramal investing $11M in U.K. plant. News

> Burglar admits heists at Lilly, Glaxo warehouses. Report

> Altaire recalls moldy eye solution made for Walmart, CVS, Target. More

> Banner manufacturing powers Patheon growth. Article

And Finally... China's diabetes epidemic is now the biggest in the world, with 11.6% of Chinese adults affected, a new study says. Report (sub. req.)