Merck appoints new CFO; Copaxone generic succeeds in trial; Lupin enters Mexican eye-drug market;

@FiercePharma: Colorado vaccine bill: Necessary education or treating parents like 'idiots'? - Fierce Vaccines. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@TracyStaton: Anti-inflammatories rule! Top 3 best-selling drugs last year = Humira, Enbrel + Remicade. More | Follow @TracyStaton

@EricPFierce: FDA 's Woodcock throws cold water on research that found foreign-made generics of Lipitor tainted. News| Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: ICYMI, here's that link again to yesterday's full issue of FiercePharmaMarketing. It includes a walking bladder. More| Follow @CarlyHFierce

Merck ($MRK) has appointed Robert Davis to succeed Peter Kellogg as CFO. Release

Dutch drug developer Synthon reports that its generic of Teva's ($TEVA) multiple sclerosis treatment Copaxone matched the original's safety and efficacy in a Phase III trial. More

Mylan ($MYL) has won a breach of contract lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) along with $106.7 million in damages. Release

Bristol-Myers Squibb ($BMY) and Pfizer ($PFE) said their blood thinner Eliquis beat warfarin at reducing the risk of stroke, regardless of whether patients' blood pressure was under control. Release

Merck KGaA will propose a 2-for-1 stock split to shareholders at the company's annual meeting in May. Report

India's Lupin has picked up Mexican eye-drug maker Laboratorios Grin for an undisclosed amount. More

A large group of researchers is asking JAMA to retract a November study linking testosterone treatments with cardiovascular risks. More

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Baxter will keep its sprawling medical products arm and spin off its biopharmaceuticals into a separate company. More | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: Zyomyx grabs some funding to launch its HIV/AIDS test in emering markets. More via FierceDiagnostics | Follow @MarkHFierce

@MichaelGFierce: Arrowhead doses first RNAi hepatitis B 'functional cure' PhIIa patient. Article via FierceDrugDelivery | Follow @MichaelGFierce

@EmilyWFierce: Supercomputer from "Jeopardy" game show will help scientists read mutations, find drug cocktail for cancer. Story via New York Times | Follow @EmilyWFierce

J&J's Ethicon division settles a vaginal mesh case for $11M. More

Crucial EU compact vote on U.S.-style device approval system raises industry concern. Story

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: ICYMI: GlaxoSmithKline joins a biotech brain trust to make R&D more efficient. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: I'll be curious to see how Novartis does with the early application on 'breakthrough' drug. Looks promising. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Brief on $BAX's breakup: creates a $6B biopharma player with focus on bleeding disorders, immune deficiencies. More | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: Antioxidant could slow progression of Lou Gehrig's disease, extend lifespan. News | Follow @EmilyMFierce

Exelixis' shares flogged after lead drug disappoints at interim PhIII point. More

RuiYi banks $15M from A-list backers to amp up Chinese R&D. Article

Pharma Manufacturing News

Baxter, FDA scramble to overcome shortage of nitroglycerin. News

GSK says someone tampered with alli bottles. News

FDA takes aim at yet another Indian API maker. Story

Market force may put quality at forefront of all generics makers. Article

FDA's Woodcock throws cold water on generic drug research. Story

French CMO Novacep sees growth. Brief

Vaccines News

'Breakthrough' nod for Pfizer MenB candidate sets up showdown with Bexsero. Story

PhIII fail further dents hopes for GSK's cancer vaccine. Story

Colorado vaccine bill: Necessary education or treating parents like 'idiots'? Article

Novartis' Bexsero wins U.K. recommendation in government U-turn. News

Government H5N1 vaccine orders drive jump in sales at Sinovac. Story

Buzz: Baxter is considering selling its vaccine unit. Brief

And Finally... Generation X-ers are fatter and twice as likely to have diabetes as Baby Boomers were at the same age.Report