Sanofi wins EU nod for Zaltrap in colon cancer; Sales hike helps Perrigo top earnings forecast;

@FiercePharma: Exanatide (Bydureon and Byetta), now sold by BMS/AZ, helped obese teens lose some weight in small study. More | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Ranbaxy plant problems devastate its share of generic Lipitor market. Report | Follow @EricPFierce

@AlisonBFierce: The FDA approved Sun Pharma's generic version of Johnson & Johnson's cancer drug Doxil to end a months-long shortage. News | Follow @AlisonBFierce

> Sanofi's ($SNY) Zaltrap drug won European approval to treat advanced colorectal cancer. Report

> Perrigo ($PRGO) beat expectations with a 6% rise in quarterly earnings, as rising sales in consumer healthcare offset rising costs. Report

> South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare is eyeing an active pharmaceutical ingredient plant in the Netherlands owned by Merck's ($MRK) Organon unit; the potential buy includes a portfolio of products. Report

> The United Arab Emirates suspended the Bayer acne and contraceptive pill Diane-35 after French health authorities raised questions about its safety. Report

> Becton Dickinson ($BDX) reported higher profits for the quarter--$625.4 million--thanks to an early flu season. Report

> Drug distributor Cardinal Health ($CAH) posted a 6% rise in quarterly earnings, fueled by increased generic drug sales. Report

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Popular yesterday on FierceBiotech.com : $ALNY licenses away hot PCSK9 prospect in 'small' $205M deal. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: This is my weird deal of the week: Merck KGaA gets option on MS therapeutic vaccine. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: Merck Serono risks short money ($5M upfront) in this MS option deal w/ Opexa. Echoes of Celsion's China pact for ThermoDox. | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Merck execs struggle with growing uncertainty over late-stage R&D. Article

> Left on FDA 'hold,' Idenix hangs up on once-hot hep C drugs. Story

Medical Device News

 @FierceMedDev: Popular yesterday: GE, NFL to pour $50M into concussion imaging tech. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev

 @MarkHFierce: Becton Dickinson's 2013 Q1 numbers impress. More | Follow @MarkHFierce

 @DamianFierce: Take a look at our list of last year's 10 most important FDA approvals in medical devices and diagnostics. Special Report | Follow @DamianFierce

> Edwards rides Sapien sales to big Q4. Story

> New needle free blood Dx targets anemia in India. Item

> Israel's NeuroQuest targets summer start for Alzheimer's blood Dx pivotal trial. Report

Biotech Research News

> New Alzheimer's drug clears amyloid tangles in mice. Item

> Gene discovery could provide relief for deadly staph infections. Report

> New target that stops metastasis could lead to safer cancer therapies. News

> Merck Serono, Feinstein Institute form collaboration to find lupus treatments. Story

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Ranbaxy production glitch devastates its generic Lipitor biz. News

> Aspen to buy Merck API plant in Netherlands to feed expansion. Article

> Ben Venue Bedford plant still missing GMP standards. Story

> FDA nails Novo for missing 850 samples over 2 years. Report

And Finally... Severely obese teens lost a modest amount of weight on exanatide, a diabetes drug sold in two formulations by Bristol-Myers Squibb ($BMY) and AstraZeneca ($AZN). Report