Novo Nordisk today announced an increased commitment to stem cell-based therapies and an expansion of the focus on type 1 diabetes into other serious chronic diseases. This has been made possible through an exclusive collaboration with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) in which a first milestone in the development of human embryonic stem cell lines has been reached.

Sanofi (Euronext: SAN; NYSE: SNY) and Ablynx (Euronext Brussels and Nasdaq: ABLX) today announced the results of the initial tender offer period of Sanofi's previously announced tender offers to acquire all of the outstanding shares (including shares represented by American Depositary Shares ("ADSs")), warrants and convertible bonds (together, the "Securities") of Ablynx.

AstraZeneca and MedImmune, its global biologics research and development arm, today announced top-line results from the GALATHEA Phase III trial for Fasenra (benralizumab) in patients with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The trial did not meet the primary endpoint of a statistically-significant reduction of exacerbations in patients with COPD.

Alcon, the global leader in eye care and a division of Novartis, has announced Alcon Cares Project 100, which aims to reduce cataract blindness by providing equipment to perform phaco surgeries. Alcon Cares, a foundation that oversees equipment and product donations to those in need, will give 100 reprocessed Infiniti units to eligible clinics in Asia, Central and South America, and Africa over the next three years, making it one of the largest eye care equipment donations of its kind.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company's supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) and granted Priority Review for TECENTRIQ® (atezolizumab), in combination with Avastin® (bevacizumab), paclitaxel and carboplatin (chemotherapy), for the initial (first-line) treatment of people with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

AstraZeneca has entered into an agreement with Luye Pharma Group, Ltd. (Luye Pharma) for the sale and licence of the rights to Seroquel and Seroquel XR in the UK, China and other international markets, including Brazil, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, Argentina, Malaysia and South Africa.

Within the newly started European research project Hypo-RESOLVE, 23 leading international players from academia, industry and civil society have joined forces to find better solutions to alleviate the burden and consequences of hypoglycaemia in diabetes. Diabetes is a global epidemic, currently affecting around 60 million people in Europe. Hypoglycaemia is a common and serious complication of diabetes, particularly affecting people with diabetes on insulin therapy; very low levels of blood glucose can lead to cognitive decline, cardiovascular events and even death.