Royalty Pharma snaps up interest in Tecfidera; Bayer's Algeta buy wins nod; FDA slaps Dara for misleading ad;

@FiercePharma: Rebel Teva shareholder throws his support to presumptive CEO Vigodman. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: There were fewer NDA's approved by the FDA in 2013, but there were some significant ones. Report | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: Bayer's hot-selling Eylea runs into a roadblock in its home market. More | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Royalty Pharma bought an indirect interest in sales of Biogen Idec's ($BIIB) new multiple sclerosis drug Tecfidera as part of a $510 million deal for earn-outs due to former Fumapharm shareholders. Report

> Bayer's buyout of the biotech company Algeta won regulatory approval from German competition watchdogs. Report

> The FDA cited Raleigh, NC-based Dara BioSciences for running misleading advertising for its treatment for breast cancer patients, Soltamox. Report

> GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) has formally filed for Indian approval to increase its stake in its domestic subsidiary to 75% from 50.67%. Report

> The Spanish blood products company Grifols inked a $1.5 billion bridge loan to help pay for its buyout of Novartis' ($NVS) blood diagnostics business. Report

> Novartis' unit in India plans to consolidate operations scattered around Hyderabad into one 8,000-employee facility, Indian media reports. Report

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: TrovaGene recruits US Oncology Research for a pancreatic cancer Dx trial. News | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MichaelGFierce: Gene delivery method 'hijacks' tumor blood vessels. More | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> Medtronic gives it another go with atrial fibrillation device. News

> Topera snags FDA OK for latest heart-mapping tech. Story

> Quest beefs up its Indian presence as stateside sales sag. Piece

> Thermo nears Life Tech merger with $1.1B sale to GE. Article

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: FierceBiotech's first special report of 2014: An ominous trend resurfaces as new drug approvals plunge in 2013. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: GE beefs up life sciences division with $1.06B Thermo Fisher deal. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: "Moon Shots" = excellent naming. MD Anderson teams up with Pfizer to advance cancer immunotherapy. Release | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: 6 U.S. institutions receive $540M in cancer research funds. Item | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> J&J gambles $12.5M in rare Big Pharma bet on a stem cell therapy. More

> Fast-growing Aratana beefs up pet drug pipeline with a $44M buyout. Piece

> Analysts score the winners in the FDA's new 'breakthrough' category. News

CRO News

> Cyprotex bags a U.S. CRO for up to $5.1M. Report

> DaVita ups its CRO weight with latest partnership. News

> Sanofi stops short of baring it all with clinical trial transparency pledge. More

> Can Parexel regain some confidence after a major slip? Article

> India further tightens clinical trial rules as demand plummets. Story

> Report: Big or small, CROs need good relationships to thrive. Item

Biotech IT News

> Google VC commits to $15M round to advance DNAnexus' data hub ambitions. Report

> NIH puts improved data handling at top of BRAIN Initiative wish list. Story

> FDA plans raft of IT guidance documents to further GDUFA goals. News

> Days after Big Pharma trumpets data sharing plans, U.K. politicians push for more transparency. Article

> Spun out of George Church's lab, Curoverse gets $1.5M for open-source bio Big Data. More

> IMS Health files for IPO after making string of tech takeovers. Item

And Finally... Acupuncture--real and fake--helped ease menopausal symptoms in women treated with aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer. Report