H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) announced the completion of two out of three pivotal studies in the phase III clinical programme for nalmefene in alcohol dependence (ESENSE1 and SENSE). The studies were conducted in Europe and enrolled about 1,300 patients with alcohol dependence.

Novartis received approval from the European Commission for Tasigna® (nilotinib) as a treatment for adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase.

Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) and Ascendis Pharma (Ascendis) announced a global licensing and patent transfer agreement on Ascendis' proprietary TransCon Linker and Hydrogel carrier technology, which allows for a drug compound to be released in the body in a precise, time-controlled fashion, creating a long-acting effect.

Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) has submitted supplemental applications to both the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to expand the use of Prevnar 13®* to adults 50 years of age and older for the prevention of pneumococcal disease caused by the 13 serotypes contained in the vaccine.

Emisphere Technologies, Inc. (OTC BB: EMIS) and Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE: NVO) have entered into an exclusive Development and Licence Agreement to develop and commercialise oral formulations of Novo Nordisk's insulins, which have the potential of treating diabetes, using Emisphere's Eligen® Technology.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) and Oncolys BioPharma Inc., a privately held biotechnology company based in Japan, have signed a definitive agreement under which Bristol-Myers Squibb will acquire exclusive worldwide rights to manufacture, develop and commercialize festinavir, a once-a-day, orally available nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) in Phase II development for HIV.

Genzyme Corporation (NASDAQ: GENZ) provided an extensive briefing on the market potential of alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis at an event for investors and analysts in New York. During the two-hour presentation, the company shared internal market research and independent, third-party analysis defining the unmet needs today in MS,