Servier loses case over Mediator issues; Merck discounts Remicade in U.K. to fend off biosimilars;

@FiercePharma: Asia's dengue epidemic highlights race for treatment, vaccine options. FiercePharmaAsia story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Japan's says its mAb work with means a need for a $309M API plant expansion. FiercePharmaManufacturing news | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: : We did an episode of @FierceBiotech Radio on biopharma's wacky Wednesday. More | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Merck ($MRK), which sells arthritis treatment Remicade in the EU, has discounted the drug 25% in the U.K., in the face of biosimilar competition that has scarfed up market share in Europe. Story

> French drugmaker Servier has been found negligent in a civil case in France for not pulling more quickly from the market its diabetes drug Mediator which was tied to heart issues and 2,100 deaths. Story

> Recruitment is underway for the 130 jobs Pfizer ($PFE) will create in Ireland. More

> The U.K. price watchdog in final guidance recommended Bristol-Myers Squibb's ($BMY) Orencia, AbbVie's ($ABBV) Humira, Pfizer's Enbrel and Roche's ($RHHBY) RoActemra for treating juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Report

> India's Strides Arcolab has bought a portfolio of 7 drugs from Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) in India. Story

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Check out this year's Fierce 15: The new strategic med tech mania sets the stage for 2015's Fierce 15. Feature | Follow @FierceMedDev

@VarunSaxena2: ICYMI: Silk Road reels in $57M to commercialize its system for stroke prevention. Article | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@EmilyWFierce: Dx Digest: Roche notches molecular diagnostics sales win; Veracyte CEO lambastes CMS pricing proposals. Report | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Congressman to introduce bill banning Bayer's Essure contraceptive device. More

> Swiss scientists reveal miniaturized patient monitoring device for ICU. Story

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Merrimack wins expedited FDA OK for pancreatic cancer drug Onivyde. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: The $NK market cap is down to a meager $873M, debuted at $2.6B -- Still too much? Soon-Shiong magic sparkles not so shiny? | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: So I guess $SHPG's Lumena buyout didn't go so well. Story | More | Follow @DamianFierce

> Amgen's T-Vec inches toward EU approval for melanoma. Report

> Spectrum tanks after the FDA rejects its blood cancer drug. Article

And Finally... Animal testing in U.K. labs has fallen to 6%. More