Russian billionaire nabs Veropharm for $155M; Boehringer gears up for first cancer-drug launch;

@FiercePharma: Trending on our website: Top 20 orphan drugs by 2018. Special Report | Follow @FiercePharma

@CarlyHFierce: China's Simcere going private thanks to $495M buyout by chairman. ICYMI yesterday | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Russian billionaire Roman Avdeev bought Veropharm, the generics unit of Pharmacy Chain 36.6 that's been up for sale, for 5 billion rubles ($151 million). Release | Report

> Boehringer Ingelheim is prepping for the U.S. launch of its first cancer drug, Gilotrif, approved by FDA in July. Report

> Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical added a CFO position to its executive roster and named François-Xavier Roger, lately CFO of Millicom International, to take on the role. Report

> The FDA says it will take three months longer to review a new use for Auxilium Pharmaceuticals' Xiaflex in Peyronie's disease. Report

> Sanofi ($SNY) successfully priced a €1 billion notes offering, due 2020, at an interest rate of 1.875%. Release (PDF)

> Merck ($MRK) plans a contraception awareness campaign in the U.K. to talk up long-term birth-control options. Report

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Sign up to receive our new publication FierceDiagnostics in your inbox each Wednesday. Sign up here | Follow @FierceMedDev

@DamianFierce: St. Jude won a CE mark for its next-gen renal denervation device. News | Follow @DamianFierce

@MarkHFierce: There's a new brain cancer MRI Dx approach, and Harvard Medical School is partially behind it. FierceDiagnostics story | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: Chip lined with human cells tests cancer drug delivery with minimal cost. FierceDrugDelivery article | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> Biotronik boosts MRI-safe options for pacemaker tech. Story

> LipoScience back to drawing board after FDA rebuff. Report

> HeartWare expands heart pump trial for destination therapy. More

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Popular yesterday: Gilead's sofosbuvir cures some of the toughest hepatitis C cases. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Strange story: Low-profile Epirus lays claim to a PhIII success for Remicade biosimilar--backed by TPG, 5AM. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: GoogleVentures bets on oral biologics from startup Rani Therapeutics. Report | Follow @RyanMFierce

@EmilyMFierce: Worm genome reveals possible drug targets. Item from FierceBiotech Research | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Human 'mini brains' grown in lab could aid drug discovery. Article

> J&J hands over $75M payout as FDA countdown begins for ibrutinib. More

Vaccines News

> Novartis begins shipping flu vaccines ahead of crucial season. Article

> Analysis finds most vaccines safe during breastfeeding. Report

> International Vaccine Institute inks Indian alliances. Item

> Herd immunity from GSK, Merck vaccines cutting hospitalizations. Story

> Low vaccination rate at megachurch linked to measles outbreak. Report

Pharma Manufacturing News

@EricPFierce: India's GRAF building nutraceutical plant. It sees the category as source of future revenue growth. Article | Follow @EricPFierce

> Injectable drugs to drive CMO growth. Story

> Fast-growing ICIG adds peptide manufacturer. Article

> Novartis OTC unit has another foul-up. Report

> DOJ files suit against plant with persistent issues. More

And Finally... China's ambitious healthcare reform will be complicated by its rapidly aging population. Report