UCB and Baylor College of Medicine announced that they have started a strategic research alliance, led at Baylor by Professor Huda Zoghbi, that aims to discover new therapeutics to treat neurodegenerative disease.

Sandoz, a Novartis company and the global leader in biosimilars, announced today that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted their Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for its biosimilar to Amgen's EU-licensed Neulasta®* (pegfilgrastim) - a long-acting recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF).

With Grants4Indications™ Bayer has launched its fifth global crowdsourcing initiative. This latest web-based grant program promotes the exploration of new indications with the aim to discover novel potential therapeutic areas for Bayer compounds.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced the executive leadership team for the combined Pfizer and Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN) business following the close of the proposed transaction.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) and Pfizer Inc. (NSYE:PFE) have entered into a collaboration agreement with Portola Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: PTLA) to develop and commercialize the investigational agent andexanet alfa in Japan. Andexanet alfa, which is in Phase 3 clinical development in the U.S. and Europe, is designed to reverse the anticoagulant activity of Factor Xa inhibitors, including Eliquis (apixaban).

To mark National Cancer Prevention Month, the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation today announced eight grants totaling nearly $11.5 million that will help make lung and skin cancer screening programs, care and patient support more accessible to underserved populations.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and Alere Inc. (NYSE: ALR) announced today a definitive agreement for Abbott to acquire Alere, significantly advancing Abbott's global diagnostics presence and leadership. Under the terms of the agreement, Abbott will pay $56 per common share at a total expected equity value of $5.8 billion.