The oral, once-daily, investigational anticoagulant rivaroxaban (Xarelto®) is significantly more effective than enoxaparin, the standard of care, in preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing total hip replacement surgery. Data from the RECORD1 study show a 70% relative risk reduction (RRR) for rivaroxaban in total VTE when compared with enoxaparin (p<0.001) and an 88% RRR (p<0.001) in major VTE.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that it had gained approval from the European Commission for a new indication for use in children and infants of its HIV fixed-dose combination medicine, Combivir (lamivudine/3TC and Zidovudine/AZT). Previously, Combivir has only been prescribed for use in adults and children over 12 years of age, the shift to new weight based prescribing will allow Combivir to be used in much younger children.

Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) and Adolor Corporation (Nasdaq: ADLR) announced today an exclusive worldwide collaboration to develop and commercialize novel compounds, ADL5859 and ADL5747, for the treatment of pain. Both compounds are proprietary Delta opioid receptor agonist candidates with the potential to treat a wide range of inflammatory, neuropathic and acute pain conditions.

Merz GmbH & Co. KGaA, based in Frankfurt am Main, was able to continue the dynamic growth of the previous years during their 2006/07 financial year (ending June 30th). Group revenue increased by 12.8% to 535.5 million Euros (previous year: 474.6 million Euros) due to new product introductions and internationally successful marketing and sales measures.

The first data from the SEROQUEL XR™ (quetiapine fumarate) Extended Release clinical development programme in major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) were presented at the 7th International Forum on Mood and Anxiety Disorders (IFMAD) in Budapest, AstraZeneca announced today.

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) today published one-year results of the ACUITY trial, which show that acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients treated with Angiomax(R) (bivalirudin) alone had similar rates of ischemic clinical outcomes compared with a more complicated treatment regimen of heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GP IIb/IIIa).[1]

Novartis has expanded its collaboration with the German biotechnology company MorphoSys to create one of the pharmaceutical industry's most comprehensive alliances focused on the discovery and development of antibody-based biologic therapies, the most successful and fastest growing class of biologics.