Innovation, influence and business in America's medical cities.

Here are some of the top stories at MedCity News this week:

Contract drug developer Ricerca Biosciences LLC in Concord Township, Ohio, agreed to acquire the discovery and preclinical business of MDS Pharma Services in King of Prussia, Pa., for $35 million, less working capital and a 2-year cap-ex reserve. The deal would more than double Ricerca’s worldwide workforce to 850 and give the company well-respected drug-development facilities in Bothell, Washington; Lyon, France; and Taipei, Taiwan.

Boston Scientific Corp.’s decision to combine its two heart-related businesses, both based in Minnesota, was not just another corporate effort to save a few hundred million bucks. It also signaled the medical device maker, based in Natick, Mass., was finally ready to put the ghosts of its troubled $27 billion acquisition of Guidant Corp. to rest.

Ohio Third Frontier backers are pulling out the big names — and hoping for the big bucks — for a campaign aimed at getting voters to approve a $700 million bond issue to renew the state’s biggest economic development project during the May 4 primary election. The big names include Jo Ann Davidson, David Wilhelm, Matthew Cox and Alex Shumate. The big money: $3.5 million.

Dr. Doris Taylor, the University of Minnesota cell biologist who grew a rat’s heart in a jar and founder of Miromatrix Inc., one of the state’s most promising biotech start-ups trying to commercialize her research, said passing the proposed angel investment tax credit “is the difference between [Minnesota] operating in the 19th century or the 21st century.” As long as neighboring Wisconsin continues to boost its angel credits and Minnesota dithers on passing any tax credits, Minnesota start-ups could continue to flock across the border.

In the week’s deals: A former executive with Medtronic Inc.and CoreValve Inc. has joined Essex Woodlands Health Ventures to start a medical-devices investment fund, which has financial commitments of up to $50 million… Four Ohio organizations will receive $19 million in federal stimulus money to train workers for jobs in the health care industry… Cleveland Clinic researchers were awarded a $9.2 million, 5-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue their study of the role of inflammation in heart disease… Kalamazoo, Mich., biotechnology company NephRx Corp. has raised $6.2 million in equity for its kidney and gastrointestinal disease therapeutics… The Clinic also received a $5.4 million federal grant to continue multiple sclerosis research that it started in 1999… Pittsburgh’s Lipella Pharmaceuticals has big plans for the year, including raising its first venture funding of up to $4 million for its drug that treats two common bladder conditions… Cellectar Inc. in Madison, Wis., has raised $2.7 million for its radiopharmaceutical technology that treats and detects a variety of cancers… Pharos Innovations LLC in Northfield, Ill., has raised nearly $862,000 in equity for the company’s remote patient-monitoring technology.