Sanofi intends to become R&D machine; Senior Pfizer exec new CEO of WebMD;

 @FiercePharma: PhRMA emails show behind-the-scenes dickering on industry's healthcare reform deal--WSJ. More | Follow @FiercePharma

> Cavan M. Redmond, a senior executive at Pfizer ($PFE), has been named CEO of online health company WebMD. Story

> Elias Zerhouni, president of global R&D at Sanofi ($SNY), told reporters Thursday that the French drugmaker intends to be the R&D machine in the industry by 2015. Report

> Forest Laboratories ($FRX) on Friday said it will pay Austrian drugmaker Nabriva Therapeutics $25 million to partner up on an infection drug and has an option to buy the whole company. Article

> Cardinal Health ($CAH) will manufacture and distribute Eli Lilly's ($LLY) Amyvid, a new diagnostic imaging agent used for patients being evaluated for Alzheimer's disease. Item

> Corruption tied to sales of drugs, both approved and fake, are areas of concern as the chief of China's Communist Party urges the government to crack down on low-level corruption. News

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Forest labs nabs rights to anti-MRSA antibiotic from Nabriva for $25M. Release | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: Now this you hardly ever see: BMS CEO throws down the gauntlet on Gilead, demands combo hep C study. Check it out. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

 @RyanMFierce: How many times did Marina change its name during lackluster run? I count at least two changes. | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Genzyme/Sanofi's oral MS drug Aubagio beats placebo in PhIII. More

> New chairman ramps up CEO search at struggling AZ. Article

> Marina Biotech hits a funding wall, shuts down RNAi ops. Story

> Bristol CEO says Gilead holding out on hep C tie-up. News

Medical Devices News

 @MarkHFierce: Folks, there's still time to submit your nominations for the FierceMedicalDevices Fierce 15 private device developers. Survey | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @FierceMedDev: The House Ways and Means Committee voted to repeal the 2.3% device tax. Next: full House vote. More

> China's device industry boasts 13,000 home-grown companies. Story

> GI Dynamics and Gore headed to court in patent dispute. More

> Smith & Nephew stops sale of optional hip replacement metal part. News

> Medtronic teams with diabetes foundation on glucose monitors. Article

And Finally... For scientists looking for a new opportunity, they might note that Abbott Laboratories ($ABT), which has been on the Scientist magazine list of "Best Places to Work in Industry" since the list began nearly a decade ago, comes in at No. 14 for 2012. Release