Sanofi France chief to exit at year's end; NICE backs Lundbeck alcoholism pill; Bayer wraps up $14.2B buyout of Merck OTC biz;

@FiercePharma: Our newest special report is live! Check out The top 10 pharma companies by employees. Feature | Follow @FiercePharma

@CarlyHFierce: RT @FiercePharma: Top-read special report Wednesday: The top 10 pharma companies by 2013 revenue. Report | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> The head of Sanofi's ($SNY) French business, Christian Lajoux, will depart at the end of the year after 21 years there, the company said. Report

> Cost-effectiveness watchdogs in the U.K. backed Lundbeck's alcoholism treatment Selincro to help people control their drinking. Report

> Merck ($MRK) and Bayer wrapped up their consumer healthcare deal, with Bayer nabbing $7 billion in financing to help cover the $14.2 billion price for Merck's OTC portfolio. Release | Report

> The CFO of French drugmaker Ipsen is stepping down at the end of October; a successor will be named soon, the company said. Release

> AbbVie ($ABBV) announced its plans for rolling out data on its hepatitis C portfolio at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Release

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: We've compiled the 15 fiercest med tech companies. Check out FierceMedicalDevices' Fierce 15. Special Report | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MichaelGFierce: RT @EmilyMFierce: Did you miss our list of notable academic-pharma alliances of 2014? Check it out here. Report from FierceBiotechResearch | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@VarunSaxena2: FDA finalizes cybersecurity guidance in push to secure devices from hackers. Story | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@EmilyWFierce: Gene in monarchs could explain why migratory butterflies are marathoners, rather than sprinters. More from the NYT | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Boehringer pilots inhalers with sensors to encourage patient adherence. Story

> Philips slapped with $466M verdict in Masimo patent battle. News

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Intarcia's annual diabetes treatment aces two Phase III trials. More | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Imagine that, $LLY's tabalumab fails for lupus, just like it failed for RA. Release | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Calithera pulls off an $80M IPO. Release | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: NIH grants up to $70M to develop new vaccine adjuvants. More from FierceVaccines | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Calithera ekes out an $80M IPO as Dermira, Forward hope for a turnaround. Report

> Feds rally behind Mapp as Ebola spreads, but production remains a challenge. Article

> Atlas Venture plans a biotech-only future via VC mitosis. Item

Vaccines News

> Sanofi to roll out quadrivalent flu jab in Canada amid GSK manufacturing woes. Report

> NIH grants up to $70M to develop vaccine adjuvants. More

> WHO: NGO mix-up caused Syrian measles vaccine deaths. Item

> Immunotherapy combos could provide a new path forward for troubled cancer vaccine field. Story

> Merck Gardasil follow-up could block 90% of cervical cancers--if uptake improves, that is. Article

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Health Canada places import ban on Apotex and IPCA Laboratories. More

> Boehringer to invest a further $19M in German plant expansion. Item

> India sending inspectors on facility visits with global peers. Story

> Officials search for ways to boost output of plant-made Ebola drugs. Article

> PhRMA dealt another legal blow in fight against drug disposal law. Report

And Finally... Officials in Texas are scrambling to determine whether the Ebola patient recently diagnosed in Dallas spread the disease before he was hospitalized. Report (sub. req.)