ViiV releases more data supporting HIV drug Tivicay; Merck settles another Vioxx suit;

@FiercePharma: Ruling against GSK's Lovaza fish-oil pill puts hurt on competitor Amarin. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: South Africa's Aspen says manufacturing assets it is getting from GSK, Merck part of global push. ICYMI from FiercePharmaManufacturing | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: ICYMI: Is J&J's manufacturing any better off since it pledged to keep closer oversight? Second recall in two weeks. Report | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> ViiV Healthcare, the HIV drug company made up of GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK), Pfizer ($PFE) and Japan's Shionogi, has released preliminary data from a study that further supports the benefits of the HIV drug Tivicay, approved in August by the FDA. Release

> A $23 million settlement by Merck ($MRK) in a class action settlement over Vioxx, the pain drug it pulled from the market years ago, may allow patients who bought the drug before Oct. 1, 2004, to get a $50 settlement or reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses. Release (PDF)

> Raptor Pharmaceutical's ($RPTP) rare-disease drug Procysbi, approved in the U.S. in May for treatment of nephropathic cystinosis, has now been approved in the EU for the same indication. Story

> A former Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) employee in India has claimed to a court that he was the whistleblower who revealed that the company had failed to check ethylene oxide levels in some baby powder before it was released to the market. Report

>  Aurobindo Pharma has agreed to buy Andhra Pradesh-based Hyacinths Pharma for an undisclosed amount. Story

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: InVivo slides again as CFO bolts, spinal study pends. ICYMI yesterday | Follow @FierceMedDev

@DamianFierce: Covidien projects a modest 2014, its first full year with no pharma revenue. Report | Follow @DamianFierce

@MarkHFierce: We have a new round of stories at FierceDiagnostics. Check them out | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: This week, in life sciences hiring: Ex-Bausch + Lomb CEO takes helm at Forest Labs... and more. Chutes & Ladders | Follow @MichaelGFierce

> Foundation Medicine eyes $92M in IPO. Report

> Study: Health reform law will produce major gains for some device companies. Article

> Medicare Dx test coverage gets revamp in new U.S. House bill. Item

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Trending now: Biotech R&D spending roars ahead as Big Pharma grimly holds the line. ICYMI yesterday | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Delcath gets a CRL, a demand for a new trial, some other hurdles, and fires its CEO. Busy day. Release | Follow @JohnCFierce

@EmilyMFierce: NIH partners with Eli Lilly, others on rare diseases. Article | Follow @EmilyMFierce

> Party drug ketamine gains steam for antidepressant use. Item

> Egalet scores up to $20M for next-gen pain drug as FDA aims to block abuse. Story

> Delcath gets FDA denial on cancer treatment and axes CEO. Article

> Visterra's engineered antibody passes preclinical test as universal flu treatment. More

And Finally....Boehringer Ingelheim has a new campaign for OTC heartburn treatment Zantac featuring Captain Zantac, which it claims is "the only current animated character in the over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn medication category."  Item