Takeda's net profit drops in last quarter; GSK and Genmab drug hits Phase III goals; Merck issues NuvaRing warning in Canada;

@FiercePharma: Friday: U.K. and Novartis begin price negotiations on Bexsero. FierceVaccines story | Follow @FiercePharma

@TracyStaton: Tops at FiercePharma over the weekend: Top Sanofi exec departs amid struggles in diabetes franchise. Story | Follow @TracyStaton

@EricPFierce: Impax CEO reassures markets after company gets 2nd FDA form 483 in a week. More | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: Allergan 'insider trading' lawsuit piles uncertainty onto Valeant's takeover try. Article | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Takeda announced lower first-quarter net profit compared to last year's earnings. Report

> Merck ($MRK) commissioned a co-generation plant with the help of the German Federal Economic Affairs and Energy Ministry at its Darmstadt-based site. Report

> GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) and Genmab announced their joint Phase III study of ofatumumab is reaching positive interim results. Release

> Merck Canada released an advisory warning some women not to use its NuvaRing contraceptive. Report

> The FDA proposed a plan to give the agency a larger oversight role for tests developed by companies to predict disease and match patients to drugs. Report

> India's antitrust agency CCI says it will examine patent settlement details between foreign drugmakers and Indian generics makers to see if they restrict affordable drugs from reaching the public. Report

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: FDA names 107 devices it will exempt under new guidelines. Report | Follow @FierceMedDev

@StacyALawrence: Smith & Nephew touts acquisitions, offers bulk hospital buying. Story | Follow @StacyALawrence

@VarunSaxena2: Industry, Dems and GOP clash on looming diagnostics regulations. Article | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@MichaelGFierce: Nature-inspired artificial cilia could help move drugs to a target. FierceDrugDelivery story | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@EmilyWFierce: FDA loosens regulatory oversight of more digital health devices with new guidance. MedCity News story | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Physicians weigh in on J&J power morcellator recall. More

> FDA names 107 devices it will exempt under new guidelines. Story

> FDA panel recommends TissuGlu surgical adhesive, says it is effective in 6-5 vote. Article

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: PTC wins EU approval for its DMD drug as Phase III data pend. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Amgen preps for swift FDA review as Kyprolis/Revlimid combo stymies myeloma. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: RT @LifeSciVC: VC-Backed Biotech IPOs: Valuations And Virtuous Cycles [new blog]. Blog | Follow @DamianFierce

> Amgen preps for swift FDA review as Kyprolis/Revlimid combo stymies myeloma. Story

> PTC wins EU approval for its DMD drug as Phase III data pend. Article

> Bristol-Myers is seeding a new crop of biotech spinouts, buyout options included. More

> Biotechs find themselves in R&D spotlight as ebola hits the headlines. Report

CRO News

> Genae's expansion binge brings it a U.K. foothold. Item

> Covance dials up revenue but dims its full-year outlook. Report

> Columbia Labs partners up for preclinical services. More

> Pfizer and Roche join Icon's adaptive-trial alliance. Story

> Quintiles ratchets up its expectations after a record quarter. Article

Biotech IT News

> Google providing genomics computing power to DREAM Challenge. Item

> 23andMe to open database to external researchers after securing NIH grant. Report

> Venter hires Google machine learning expert to build Translate for genomics. News

> Medidata strengthens data security through Sumo Logic tie up. Story

> Biopharma searching for right balance in addressing social media use by trial participants. Article

Animal Health News

> Dekkers says Bayer may add to animal health division with M&A, in time. Report

> Merial revenues see sizable jump as NexGard sales are strong in the U.S. More

> Sanofi's Merial releases safe feline rabies vaccine. Item

> Zoetis expands product offerings in key China market. Story

> Merck Animal Health posts small revenue increase, even without Zilmax. Article

And Finally... The CEO of Procter & Gamble ($PG) said today that the company plans to divest, discontinue or merge more than half of its 170 brands in the next two years to cut costs. Report