European Commission approves Amgen's Blincyto and Biogen's Elocta; U.K. pledges £2B more in drug spending;

@FiercePharma: Japan's Takeda gets early U.S. FDA nod for ixazomib. More from FiercePharmaAsia | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: ICYMI: Catalent halts production, calls authorities into French plant where tampering is suspected. Article | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: With veteran job-choppers Pfizer and Allergan joining hands, how many layoffs are in the cards? More | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> About £2 billion of a £9 billion increase in healthcare spending next year pledged by the U.K. will be for drugs. Report

> Biogen ($BIIB) and Sobi's hemophilia A treatment Elocta has been approved by the European Commission. Release

> Amgen's ($AMGN) new treatment Blincyto has been approved in Europe for treatment of adults with Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-) relapsed or refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Release

> The CEO of an Irish company has said if politicians don't like tax inversion deals like Pfizer's ($PFE) buyout of Allergan ($AGN), they should stop complaining and change their tax laws. Report

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: Startup gets $36.5M to conduct U.S. pivotal trial for novel endoscopic weight loss device. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev

@VarunSaxena2: ICYMI: Physicians call for novel abuse-deterrent opioid agonist/antagonist formulations in survey. FierceDrugDelivery story | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@EmilyWFierce: Dell teams up with Zebra Medical Vision for data analytics initiative. Report | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Dell teams up with Zebra Medical Vision for data analytics initiative. Story

> Cigna launches genetic counseling program for hereditary cancers. Article

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Genmab's lymphoma project flops in Phase III with Novartis holding the bag. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Any journos who would like to attend our breakfast event on Big Data? Drop me a line @ [email protected]. More info | Follow @JohnCFierce

@DamianFierce: Has anyone asked the presumptive FDA chief whether jet fuel can melt steel? More | Follow @DamianFierce

> FierceBiotech Radio on the ins and outs of 'Pfizergan' and whatever it is Martin Shkreli's doing. Listen | Subscribe

> BMS racks up another Opdivo approval after FDA makes quick decision. Report

> What if 21st Century Cures had been around before bapineuzumab blew up? Story

> XBiotech flubs a Phase III trial with its lead cancer drug. Article

Drug Delivery News

> Depomed acquires pain candidate for $25M as it fends off Horizon's hostile takeover. Item

> AstraZeneca begins dosing in trial of its Bind-partnered cancer candidate. More

> J&J leads $24M financing into maker of OTC 'liquid shots' for common ailments. Report

> Pills loaded with mucoadhesive patches could make oral insulin a reality. Story

> Adapt Pharma earns FDA approval of first intranasal spray for emergency opioid overdose. Article

Pharma Manufacturing News

> Novo Nordisk says all its manufacturing plants will run on renewable electricity by 2020. News

> Abzena to raise $30M to buy another U.S. contract drug developer. Report

> Some production resumes at Strides Shasun facility following fire that killed one. More

> Synerlab buys contract manufacturing developer Alcala Farma for undisclosed price. Story

> South Africa's Ascendis picks up manufacturing facility in $24.6M deal for Akacia. Article

Pharma Asia News

> India's Biocon chief says R&D tax breaks essential for investment. Story

> China's ZAI Lab in oncology license deal for HM61713 with South Korea's Hanmi. More

> India's gliptin market ready for a shakeup by Zydus at 11 U.S. cents a pill. Report

> Japan's Takeda gets early U.S. FDA nod for ixazomib. Item

> India-EU trade talks back on next year, GVK issue sidelined. Article