Sinopharm plots more M&A; Mitsubishi Tanabe recalls 3 injectable drugs;

 @FiercePharma: Steve Jobs might benefit from new cancer drugs. Report | Follow @FiercePharma

> Sinopharm, China's biggest drug distributor, plans to spend at least ¥5 billion ($759 million) buying companies in the next two years after agreeing to its largest acquisition since going public. Story

> Savient Pharmaceuticals named former Eli Lilly oncology executive John Johnson as its chief executive effective Jan. 31. Report

> John Horan, who served as chairman and CEO of Merck from 1976 to 1985 as the company grew to become the world's largest drugmaker, has died. He was 90. Item

> Mylan said it settled a patent dispute with Pfizer, which will enable it to sell the generic version of the blood pressure drug Caduet beginning Nov. 30. News

> Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma said it will recall 2 million shots of three injected drugs made at a factory in Japan after an employee failed to test the medicines properly to ensure they met quality controls. Article

> Genzyme has voluntarily repaid $6 million in job-creation incentives to Massachusetts after failing to meet their terms. Report

> Bristol-Myers Squibb, which spent $885 million to acquire Seattle-based ZymoGenetics in October, has decided to maintain its presence there. Report

> The cost of Johnson & Johnson's string of recent McNeil product recalls, most notably those of children's medicines: about $900 million in lost sales in 2010. Item

> Most Americans do not want Congress to block funding for various new healthcare measures even as the nation remains split on the sweeping overhaul passed last year, a new poll found. Story

> Irish drugmaker Elan has quietly laid off 130 people, or about 10 percent of its workforce. Article

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Rogosin investigators use cancer to fight cancer. Item | Follow @FierceBiotech

 @JohnCFierce: FYI, I'm headed to NY Feb 14-16 for the BIO investor forum; Milan for Bio-Europe March 14-16, sandwiched between a couple of webinars. Follow @JohnCFierce

> Data vs. market "exclusivity" in blockbuster scrap over biosimilars. Story

> Report: Elan chops San Francisco R&D in big shakeup. Item 

> Sanofi's Viehbacher cites "progress" in takeover talks with Genzyme. Article 

> Abbott chops 1,900 workers after experimental drugs flop. News 

Drug Delivery News

> FDA issues guidance on maximum 'sprinkle drug' bead size. Story 

> NanoPopcorn targets, cooks and tracks prostate cancer cells. Item

> Pacira licenses DepoFoam to Novo Nordisk, plans IPO. Article 

> Government funding makes sense for early pharma research. Report 

> Nano in the brain: Is it safe? Story

Medical Device News

> 3M, beleagured J&J, announce financial results. Story 

> Abbott stent sales soar in Q4. Article 

> CSA Medical snares $10M in first round. Story 

> Abbott to ask FDA panel for expanded approval of carotid stent. News 

> Stryker eyeing acquisitions. Report 

> Shamed cardiologist's suit against med center transferred. Article 

And Finally... German Health Minister Philipp Rösler sent a letter to the nation's drugmakers, asking them to refuse any requests from the U.S. for the drug sodium thiopental, which is used in lethal injections. News