Pfizer's ($PFE) Ibrance has already been prescribed to more than 20,000 patients, and the company says it has a "very heavy" clinical trial program testing it in multiple types of breast cancer and beyond. But Pfizer may need that head start and more to stay ahead of a pair of up-and-comers currently in its rivals' pipelines. More from FiercePharmaMarketing
@FiercePharma: Report: Veterinary prices rise modestly as clinics charge more for routine services. FierceAnimalHealth story | Follow @FiercePharma
@CarlyHFierce: ICYMI: FDA shoots down Vertex's latest bid for Kalydeco expansion. Article | Follow @CarlyHFierce
> The FDA green-lighted Bristol-Myers Squibb's ($BMY) Daklinza for more hard-to-treat hep C patients. Release
> Cigna announced that it has entered into an outcomes-based contract with Novartis ($NVS) over heart-failure newcomer Entresto. More
> Top FDA official Janet Woodcock told a congressional committee that she's expecting a deluge of biosimilars applications and may need more resources to handle them. Report
> The U.S. Justice Department is investigating possible fraud among compounding pharmacies that hawk pricey pain-relief creams. Report
Medical Device News
@FierceMedDev: ICYMI: Nikon makes strategic investment in Thiel-backed cheap, safe handheld X-ray startup. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev
@EmilyWFierce: PhRMA is planning on spending millions this year to clean up the drug industry's tarnished rep. More from the WSJ (sub. req.) | Follow @EmilyWFierce
> U.K. engineering company Halma purchases maker of real-time hospital monitors for $140M. Story
> Former BD CEO backs Velano Vascular in $3.5M for needle-free blood draw device. Article
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: Baxalta partner CTI plunges after FDA slaps partial hold on PhIII myelofibrosis drug. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: ICYMI: UPDATED: A patient in Akashi's suspended Duchenne MD trial dies. More | Follow @JohnCFierce
> Biogen joins a GSK-led data-sharing project to make R&D more efficient. Report
> Sarepta faces another FDA delay with its much-scrutinized DMD drug. Story
> AstraZeneca's cancer checkpoint combo looks promising in small lung cancer study. Article
Animal Health News
> Scientists pinpoint contributions pets can make to human medicine. Report
> Currency woes overshadow Merck's 2015 growth in animal health. Item
> UPenn veterinary students to star in new Animal Planet reality show. Story
> Report: Veterinary prices rise modestly as clinics charge more for routine services. More
> Stem cell therapy developed to treat dental disease in cats could also help people. Article
Biotech IT News
> 454 Life Sciences, Ion Torrent founder raises $40M for tech-enabled drug development shop. Report
> In silico discovery platform drives forward Bavarian Nordic's MRSA vaccine program. More
> Buzz: Roche weighing up bid for Pacific Biosciences. Item
> U.K. looks to house software developers at planned cancer research hub. Story
> Illumina signs biobank deals to fuse genome data, EMRs. Article
Pharma Marketing News
> Docs take aim at Novartis' 'horrifying' Entresto ad. Article
> Valeant, AstraZeneca played the Super Bowl ad game, but did they win? Item
> GSK's slow-off-the-blocks Anoro gets a leg up from Incruse sidekick. Story
> Omega diet-aid ad banned in U.K.; summer slimming promos not 'socially responsible.' Article
> 'Safe' social network LinkedIn emerges as popular marketing tool for pharma. Report
And Finally... Merck & Co.'s ($MRK) recent Vioxx-related settlement in New Jersey is expected to trigger a $150 million hit to the directors' and officers' insurance market. Report