AstraZeneca and its haematology research and development centre of excellence, Acerta Pharma, today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to Calquence (acalabrutinib). Calquence is a kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adult patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received at least one prior therapy. 
Boehringer Ingelheim and Sarah Cannon Research Institute today announced an expansion of their strategic partnership to bring innovative treatments to cancer patients by developing novel immuno-oncology therapies. The new effort combines Boehringer Ingelheim's oncology research and Sarah Cannon’s expertise in clinical trial design and recruitment to evaluate BI 891065, a novel and potent SMAC mimetic, alone and as a potential combination partner with PD-1-directed cancer therapy. 
Novartis announced today, that it has entered a memorandum of understanding with Advanced Accelerator Applications (AAA) under which Novartis intends to commence a tender offer for 100% of the share capital of AAA subject to certain conditions. Advanced Accelerator Applications (NASDAQ:AAAP) is a radiopharmaceutical company that develops, produces and commercializes Molecular Nuclear Medicines including Lutathera® (177Lu-DOTATATE), 
Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced recipients of the fifth annual Grant for Multiple Sclerosis Innovation (GMSI) during the 7th Joint ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS Meeting in Paris, France. This year, 77 proposals from 25 countries were submitted, representing innovative research projects taking place across the globe. Novartis today announced it will present 54 scientific abstracts from across its multiple sclerosis (MS) research portfolio at the 7th Joint European and Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS) meeting (October 25-28, 2017 Paris, France). 
The largest Russian biotechnology company BIOCAD plans to enter the European market with oncological and autoimmune medicines. So far, there are seven molecules in the European portfolio of BIOCAD. These are innovative and biosimilar products, which could be used in treatment of melanoma, breast, stomach, kidney and lung cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. 
Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY), has announced the Group sales rose 5% to CHF 39.4 billion. Sales in the Pharmaceuticals Division increased 5% to CHF 30.6 billion. The recently launched medicines Ocrevus, Tecentriq and Alecensa contributed CHF 0.9 billion to new sales, accounting for more than half of the division's growth. 