@FiercePharma: Abbott plans to hive off its branded-biopharma business--$18B of its $40B sales--with EVP Richard Gonzalez as CEO News | Follow @FiercePharma
> Sun Pharmaceutical offered $24.50 per share for the remaining stock in Taro Pharmaceutical that it doesn't already own, valuing the company at about $1 billion. Article
> Express Scripts faces another congressional committee hearing on its proposed acquisition of fellow pharmacy benefits manager Medco Health Solutions. Item
> Merck's ($MRK) Irish unit is seeking volunteers to leave its County Wicklow facility, aiming to cut 40 jobs from the payroll. Report
> Perrigo asked FDA to approve its version of the Alcon Labs nasal spray patanase, while Alcon sued the company for patent infringement. Story
> Gilead Sciences ($GILD) breaks ground today on a $140 million R&D facility on its Foster City, CA campus. News
> PPD, the contract research organization that Carlyle Group and Hellman & Friedman want to buy for $3.9 billion, has another interested buyer who's signed a confidentiality agreement in return for more information on the company. Story
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: Out of the gate yesterday, Sage Tx announces license deal with Ligand for Captisol tech for CNS drugs Item | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Thanks to Peter Mueller, Doug Williams, Omid Farokhzad, Tom Hughes and Stephen Knight for an interesting conversation on early stage R&D. | Follow @JohnCFierce
@RyanMFierce: Vertex's Mueller on open R&D: sharing IP gives you an opportunity to solve problems faster. A plug for open R&D? | Follow @RyanMFierce
> Arteaus launches with $18M from Atlas, OrbiMed. Article
> NextBio sees demand for translational research service. Piece
> PwC: Life Science VC funding dips in Q3 2011. Report
Medical Devices News
> Abbott to split into two companies. News
> Gore acquires NMT assets. Item
> Foundation Medicine raises $33.5M in expanded Series A. More
Drug Delivery News
> Santaris wins as delivery partner in Miragen's $352M deal. Article
> Halozyme gets boost from injectable Herceptin. Story
> Topica Pharma grabs $27M B round for topical antifungal drug. Article
> SkyePharma hit with European delay on Flutiform app. Piece
> Scientists find new pulse on gene therapy delivery. More
> Drug-delivery devices could run on power from the body. Report
And Finally... The list of aging-associated proteins known to be involved in cancer is growing longer. Article