Novartis ($NVS) was all set to close the door on a Sandoz intermediates plant in Germany last year, thanks to some hefty competition from Asia. But now, the Swiss pharma giant has a buyer willing to take the plant--and salvage the 270 jobs that would have been chopped. More from FiercePharmaManufacturing
@FiercePharma: Dana-Farber and MIT team says financial engineering could help pay for big-ticket meds. More | Follow @FiercePharma
> Sanofi ($SNY) won European approval for its diabetes-focused joint venture with Google's parent company Alphabet ($GOOG). Report
> India's Lupin plans to invest in Japan, with hopes of getting 20 drugs to market there in the coming quarters. Report
> In amicus briefs, two pharma industry groups urged the Third Circuit to affirm a lower court ruling that tossed out a pay-for-delay case against Pfizer's ($PFE) Wyeth unit and generics maker Teva ($TEVA). Report
> Pfizer asked a U.S. district judge to bar some expert testimony in pending lawsuits over alleged birth defects linked to its antidepressant Zoloft; Legal Intelligencer judged the litigation "on the verge of collapse." Report
Medical Device News
@FierceMedDev: Propeller partners with Aptar in hopes of winning race to first integrated 'smart' inhaler. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev
> Boston Scientific's Brazilian operations under investigation, as co-founder to depart. More
> J&J's LifeScan rolls out blood glucose meter with color-based results. News
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: Blocked and tackled by the FDA, AcelRx spikes on upbeat update on PhIII pain study. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech
> Backed by Bill Gates, low-profile Exicure steps into spotlight with a $42M R&D gamble. Story
> Booming WuXi eyes $1.5B IPO for biologics unit: report. More
CRO News
> A year after its LabCorp buyout, Covance posts steady sales. More
> WuXi's reportedly spinning off its biologics biz in an IPO. Report
> Post-Pfizer Icagen pairs up with Aptuit for drug discovery. Story
> Deal-hungry Icon posts solid final quarter results. Article
Pharma Manufacturing News
> Indian quality moves underway as industry, regulators meet. Report
> Indian pharma snaps up U.S. manufacturing with $1.5B worth of deals in 2015. More
> Japan's Mitsubishi Tanabe expected to have fast-production flu vaccine ready by 2019. Item
> Seqirus adding vax production facility in U.K. Story
> ICIG acquiring Novartis intermediates plant that was set to fold. Article
Pharma Asia News
> Japan's Otsuka announces new plan for delamanid to help curb TB. News
> India kicks off 'red line' guide on antibiotic overprescription. More
> Hong Kong seeks a seat at precision medicine services table. Report
> Indian drug firms bought big in 2015 M&A with U.S. manufacturing focus. Story
> Drug manufacturing quality standards push on in India. Article
And Finally... What happens when cancer patients have to deal with other physical problems? Report