Net sales for the second quarter of 2008 increased 18 percent to $2,823 million, compared to $2,386 million in the second quarter of 2007. Net income for the second quarter of 2008 totaled $539 million, compared to $515 million for the same period of 2007 (up 5 percent), while diluted earnings per share increased to $0.65 from $0.63 (up 3 percent).

The International Association of Fire Fighters has announced the launch of a new initiative to help fire fighters, family members and friends to quit smoking cigarettes. "Our goal is to help make the IAFF the first smoke-free union," IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger said in his address to delegates at the IAFF 49th Convention.

The pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim continued to post strong growth in local currencies in the first half of 2008 (+9.0%). On account of the strength of the euro against the US dollar and the Japanese yen, growth after consolidation in euro was +2.1% with net sales of EUR 5,522 million compared with EUR 5,407 million in the first six months of 2007.

The financial statements of the JSC Grindeks for the first half of the year 2008, submitted to Riga Stock Exchange, certify that the Group of Grindeks has operated successfully during the first six months of this year. The net profit during the reporting period is 5 million lats, which is by 43% more than in the first half of 2007.

PLIVA d.d. (ZSE: PLVA-R-A), a subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Barr"), today reported financial results for the six month period ended 30 June 2008, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Nycomed agreed with Bayer Schering Pharma on the sale of the preclinical anti-cancer program. The agreement is part of Nycomed's strategic decision not to further invest in oncology R&D activities. As the final step in the divestment of its Oncology portfolio, Nycomed agreed with Bayer Schering Pharma on the sale of a kinase inhibitor program, targeting a key growth and survival pathway in cancer.

Pfizer Inc announced that, in patients with heart disease, type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, Lipitor® (atorvastatin calcium) 80 mg significantly reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke, by 35 percent compared with Lipitor 10 mg.