Bad news for struggling obesity drugmakers: Things aren't going to get any better, one analyst says. And the way he sees it, for leaders Orexigen ($OREX) and Vivus ($VVUS), they're likely to get much worse. More from FiercePharmaMarketing
@FiercePharma: Hoping Vivus and Orexigen can finally kick-start their obesity meds? Don't count on it, analyst says. More from FiercePharmaMarketing | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: ICYMI from FiercePharmaManufacturing: Novartis finds buyer for antibiotic intermediates plant in Frankfurt-Höchst that was set to close. Article | Follow @EricPFierce
@CarlyHFierce: Pearson sweeps back into Valeant with a slate of fix-it promises. Report | Follow @CarlyHFierce
> The FDA has green-lighted Roche ($RHHBY) treatment Gazyva in certain patients with previously treated follicular lymphoma. Release
> Belgium-based UCB, encouraged by quick growth for three new meds, set out a forecast for higher earnings and sales in 2016. Report
> PhRMA's new chief, Stephen Ubl, is taking on the role at a tough time for the industry, and so far, his statements on changing the story about pharma price hikes have been hit or miss, Forbes suggests. Report
> Novartis ($NVS) won a new use for its cancer therapy Afinitor as a treatment for patients with certain types of inoperable neuroendocrine tumors originating in the lungs or gastrointestinal tract. Release
> Boehringer Ingelheim and AbbVie ($ABBV) are said to be in talks for a cancer-focused partnership; the German drugmaker sells two lung cancer meds and is studying new products for lung and bowel cancer, while AbbVie shares marketing of the blood cancer drug Imbruvica. Report
> India's plans to open more government drug stores would be a positive for pharma in the country, a company executive said. Report
> A rare disease advocacy group is pushing for changes in European drug adoption and reimbursement to ease new treatments' paths to market. Report
Medical Device News
@FierceMedDev: ICYMI: Boston upstart raises $46M, makes acquisition for translational imaging in biopharma R&D. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev
@EmilyWFierce: FDA is asking for more tests to evaluate the risk of Bayer's birth control implant Essure. More from Reuters | Follow @EmilyWFierce
> Vascular Solutions vindicated in off-label marketing suit over varicose vein device. Story
> Battle-worn Toshiba mulls sale of medical business amid rising restructuring costs. Report
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: Top asthma drug at Roche posts 1 win, 1 flop in identical PhIIIs. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: In a setback, AstraZeneca's immunotherapy tremelimumab flunks mesothelioma test. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce
@DamianFierce: my only Oscar opinions: World of Tomorrow and Anomalisa got robbed. | Follow @DamianFierce
> Sanofi scouts for rare disease buyouts as Shire bears down on the field. Story
> Boehringer and AbbVie are reportedly weighing a multibillion-dollar cancer alliance. More
> 'Brexit' risks serious side effects for U.K. life sciences. Article
> With ataluren under a cloud, PTC plunges (again) after a market setback in Germany. Report
Pharma Marketing News
> Jardiance, Belsomra and Entyvio brand managers share DTC honors with oldsters like Viagra. More
> Flu vaccine brands struggle for recognition even when in fab fighting form. Report
> Takeda aims to unlock $2B in Entyvio sales with multipronged DTC push. Story
> Hoping Vivus and Orexigen can finally kick-start their obesity meds? Don't count on it, analyst says. Article
> Pearson returns to Valeant with promise to boost payer, government relations. Item
Animal Health News
> Animal Health acquisition pushes Patterson's Q3 earnings past estimates. News
> Animal health boosts Bayer's sales growth but 2016 forecast disappoints. Item
> Zoetis wins approval for monthly flea-fighting pill, setting up three-way rivalry. Report
> Oasmia repositions chemo drug for dogs in bid to grab larger market. Story
> High-flying Parnell dips as 2015 revenue and 2016 guidance miss estimates. Article
Biotech IT News
> NIH calls on EHR developers to facilitate Obama's PMI through the use of open APIs. More
> FDA challenges industry to improve reproducibility and accuracy of informatics pipelines. Story
> NY Genome Center enlists IBM to create Watson-enabled cancer research platform. Report
> HHS taps Medidata for data to inform research into drug development costs. Item
> Illumina calls in the lawyers to curb the rise of Oxford Nanopore. Article
And Finally... Weak trial data may be disappointing to patients, but the FDA has to stick to its standards, the agency says. Report