Suits allege Pfizer's Lipitor tied to diabetes cases; Merck lauds its flea treatment; NuPathe execs sitting pretty in buyout;

@FiercePharma: With tough Japanese enforcers eyeing its Blopress marketing, Takeda chief admits missteps. Story | Follow @FiercePharma

@TracyStaton: This year's version of FiercePharma's most popular special report: The top 10 pharma companies by 2013 revenue. Report | Follow @TracyStaton

@EricPFierce: WSJ says Pfizer angling for OTC Lipitor. That will get generic drugmakers' notice. More | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: Roche, by the way, was No. 3 when it comes to 2013 revenue - read more here and see the rest of the top 10. Report| Follow @CarlyHFierce

Pfizer ($PFE) has been sued in federal court in West Virginia by four women who allege their type 2 diabetes is linked to taking Pfizer's cholesterol-lowering blockbuster Lipitor. Story

Sagent Pharmaceuticals is recalling two lots of Zoledronic Acid Injection after investigating a complaint of leaking bags. Release

Top NuPathe executives could see their $8 million in stock, options, warrants and units nearly double as a result of the company's buyout by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. Story

A new federal study found that some U.S. doctors use three times as many antibiotics as their peers for treating similar conditions, contributing to the development of superbugs. Story (sub. req.)

Novo Nordisk ($NVO) announced study results during the Diabetes UK conference suggesting that psychological support, along with education and self-management, should be a priority for diabetes care in the UK. Story

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: 1,000 people (and rising) are gearing up to sue Medtronic over its Infuse bone growth implant. More | Follow @FierceMedDev

@MarkHFierce: Uh-oh for Thoratec. Some heart pump safety troubles. Story via WSJ (sub. req.) | Follow @MarkHFierce

@GalenMoore: Upheld: Former Spectranetics CEO's conviction for lying to the feds over device smuggling allegations. Story | Follow @GalenMoore

@EmilyWFierce: GE Healthcare slapped with FDA's most serious recall for some of its infant resuscitation products. More | Follow @EmilyWFierce

The FDA will mull Navidea's latest pitch to widen the use of its injectable cancer imaging agent. Brief

Word of a $16M Coloplast vaginal-mesh settlement spurs global resolution talk. Article

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: FDA rejects Eli Lilly's SGLT2 diabetes drug empagliflozin. More | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Analysts applaud as Bristol-Myers preps a PhIII study for PD-1 cancer combo. Editor's Corner | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: FDA rejects Lilly and Boehringer's diabetes drug (SGLT2-blocker) over manufacturing issue. Release | Follow @DamianFierce

@EmilyMFierce: This week's issue of FierceBiotech Research is out: Read | Follow @EmilyMFierce

Biogen Idec buys into Eisai's BACE camp on Alzheimer's as drug race heats up. News

Xoma drug fails to beat out a placebo in PhII osteoarthritis study. Article

Drug Delivery News

AstraZeneca looks to pen injector approval to turn Bydureon diabetes sales around. Story

Teva, Alexza launch inhaled schizophrenia, bipolar treatment in the U.S. News

Neos collects $15.5 from private investors to bring ADHD extended-release option to market. News

Study: In two-drug, HIV-preventing vaginal ring, only one drug does the job. Article

New manufacturing technique offers tailored delivery nanoparticles made of iron, silver and silicon. Story

Tattoo-mediated delivery offers possible treatment for sandfly-borne skin disease. Brief

Diagnostics News

J. Craig Venter raises $70M for a gene-sequencing and therapeutic startup. News

Sequenom counts on prenatal test growth to reverse its fortunes. Story

Qiagen launches its HPV test in India with low-resource areas in mind. Article

Biodesix's CE mark triggers wider access for its personalized lung cancer treatment Dx. Story

NEJM study scores Illumina prenatal test high for reducing false positives. Research

CardioDx confronts tough reimbursement climate by touting cost-effective CAD test. Brief

Pharma Marketing News

It's trial by fire for Zogenix, as painkiller Zohydro's launch meets public furor. Story

Sanofi expands Kynamro marketing team to spark up sales. News

Critics may play whack-a-mole on pharma's doctor-speakers, but the species lives on. Article

Can Teva persuade payers that pricey long-acting Copaxone beats cheap generics? Article

Aiming for big growth in top 5 meds, Bayer will stake an extra $600M on marketing, R&D. Story

With tough Japanese enforcers eyeing its Blopress marketing, Takeda chief admits missteps. Brief

And Finally... Merck ($MRK), which is evaluating the future of its animal health unit, reports that a study found its Activyl is a more effective flea treatment for pets than competitor Frontline Plus from Merial Ltd. of Duluth, GA. Story