Novo Nordisk ($NVO) has some new data in hand that could help a safety advantage make its way onto the label of new drug Tresiba--and win it points against heavyweight rival Sanofi ($SNY). In a recent study, the med hit its primary endpoint, cutting the number of hypoglycemic events by 30% compared with the French drugmaker's Lantus. Tresiba's rate of hypoglycemia tallied 186 events per 100 patient years, compared with 265 on Lantus. And as for hypoglycemia episodes at night, the study's secondary endpoint, Tresiba slashed them by 42%. More from FiercePharmaMarketing
@FiercePharma: Lilly closes two animal health factories, citing no 'competitive business model.' FierceAnimalHealth story | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: ICYMI from FiercePharmaManufacturing: Novartis is revamping its manufacturing after having disposed of 25 plants. Article | Follow @EricPFierce
@CarlyHFierce: ICYMI: Merck sets $54K list price for hep C combo as it preps for battle with Gilead, AbbVie. Article | Follow @CarlyHFierce
> Bristol-Myers Squibb ($BMY) and Pfizer ($PFE) have inked a collaboration deal with Portola Pharmaceuticals to develop and market Portola's andexanet alfa--a candidate reversal agent for new-age anticoagulants such as the pair's Eliquis--in Japan. Release
Abbott Labs ($ABT) has agreed to buy diagnostics company Alere ($ALR) for $5.8 billion. Report
> Pfizer's Lyrica and Neurontin--meds that are often recommended as safer alternatives to opioid pain therapies--could face new U.K. restrictions thanks to increasing reports that they're being abused. More
> The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended Bristol-Myers Squibb and AbbVie's ($ABBV) multiple myeloma immunotherapy, Empliciti, for approval. Report
> Teijin Pharma has launched Loqoa Tape, a new transdermal anti-inflammatory analgesic patch formulation.
Medical Device News
@FierceMedDev: ICYMI: Philips taps transportation exec in its effort to industrialize, personalize healthcare. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev
@VarunSaxena2: Which pharma character is #1? FiercePharmaMarketing report | Follow @VarunSaxena2
@EmilyWFierce: Abbott inks $5.8B deal for Alere to expand in point-of-care diagnostics. Report | Follow @EmilyWFierce
> Smith & Nephew reveals its CEO has cancer, says he will remain in charge during treatment. News
> Stryker to buy disposable device maker for $2.7B to reduce hospital-acquired infections. Article
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: ICYMI Friday: Genentech snags a PhII-ready IL-33 asthma/COPD drug from Amgen. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Will Zika frenzy fuel an overnight vaccine R&D miracle? Don't bet on it. More | Follow @JohnCFierce
@DamianFierce: this man missed a huge opportunity in orthopedics. More from STAT | Follow @DamianFierce
> The synNotch solution: UCSF scientists engineer a next-gen T-cell immunotherapy. Item
> Bristol-Myers, Pfizer and Eisai bet big biobucks on the Japanese market. Story
> Lilly considers taking the plunge on a next-gen GLP-1 drug for diabetes. More
Animal Health News
> Lilly closes two animal health factories, citing no 'competitive business model.' More
> IDEXX and Abaxis trade fortunes on Wall Street as earnings surprise investors. Story
> Merial teams with Georgia Tech to advance connected networks for animal health. Article
> Dog flu sweeps the U.S. with two more confirmed cases in Washington state. Report
> Aratana shares soar on first FDA filing for approval of canine arthritis drug. News
Biotech IT News
> CosmosID raises $6M to advance microbiome bioinformatics offering. Story
> BioClinica rolls out tech-enabled postapproval research service. Item
> DNAnexus connects genomics platform to Sapio Sciences' LIMS. More
> AstraZeneca taps CRISPR to extract value from genome data. Report
> Leo Pharma mounts $70M push into digital health technology. Article
Pharma Marketing News
> More link think? OPDP lists social media links as guidance item for 2016. Report
> Don't expect a generics-style smackdown from Remicade biosims, J&J CEO says. Story
> Novo's Tresiba scores data for a new edge in insulin fight against Sanofi. Article
> Roche's pharma chief sees no 'short term' pricing pressure on its cancer blockbusters. More
> Novartis retrains Entresto reps, plans field force expansion as payers finally step up. Report
And Finally... A study found additional reasons to be wary of long-term use of reflux drugs. Report