Telmisartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker, is one of the best researched drugs worldwide. It has been studied in clinical trials in more than 50,000 patients. Its positive safety profile has been confirmed also in a market exposure of 34.5 million patient years.

Genzyme Corporation (Nasdaq: GENZ) announced that its alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis development program has been granted Fast Track status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) has signed agreements with ICON and PAREXEL, two leading providers of clinical development services to the biopharmaceutical industry, for joint strategic, operational and capability support of the company's clinical development program.

Bayer HealthCare and Onyx Pharmaceuticals today announced that the final analysis of the Phase III NExUS (NSCLC research Experience Utilizing Sorafenib) trial evaluating Nexavar® (sorafenib) tablets in patients with advanced non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showed that the trial did not meet its primary endpoint of improving overall survival in the first-line setting.

An advisory committee of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended approval of FTY720 (fingolimod) for the treatment of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, the most common form of the disease.

GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) has acquired Laboratorios Phoenix S.A.C.yF ('Phoenix'), a leading Argentine pharmaceutical business, for a cash consideration of approximately $253 million.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) announced that the companies have agreed to stop the Phase 3 AVERROES clinical trial of apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation.