EMERFLU®, pandemic influenza vaccine for humans, approved in Australia
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), announced that its pandemic influenza vaccine for human use Emerflu®, has been granted marketing authorization from the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Emerflu® vaccine is now approved for the prevention of pandemic
influenza in Australia upon official declaration of a pandemic.
Read more ...
Glivec® recommended for use in Europe as first post-surgery treatment for GIST
Novartis has received a positive opinion supporting European Union (EU) approval of Glivec® (imatinib)* as a post-surgery treatment for patients at significant risk of relapse following removal of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended approval for Glivec based on positive findings from a pivotal Phase III study, which showed that use of Glivec after surgery reduces risk of recurrence by approximately 89%[1].
Read more ...
New image of therapy for erectile difficulties
At the European Association of Urology (EAU) congress in Stockholm, Sweden, Bayer Schering Pharma presented new data that might change the image of therapy for erectile difficulties. Two independent placebo-controlled clinical studies demonstrated that Levitra® (vardenafil HCI) results in a significantly prolonged erection(1,2) which is a prerequisite for an increase in the duration of intercourse.
Read more ...
Merck KGaA and Fast Forward, LLC Announce Collaboration
Merck KGaA announced that its Merck Serono division and Fast Forward, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American National Multiple Sclerosis Society, have entered a collaborative partnership to evaluate and fund promising multiple sclerosis (MS) research projects. Proposals will be jointly developed by Merck Serono and Fast Forward. Merck will provide up to $19 million in funding.
Read more ...
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Grants Reissue Patent Relating to Lipitor
Pfizer Inc announced that the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has granted reissue patent RE40667, relating to Lipitor. The company had applied for the reissue patent in January 2007, in order to correct a technical defect in the '995 enantiomer patent for atorvastatin calcium, the salt form of atorvastatin sold as Lipitor.
Read more ...
Roche acquires innovatis AG to complement its product portfolio
Roche has signed a definite agreement under which Roche will acquire 100% of innovatis, a privately held company based in Bielefeld, Germany. innovatis is a leading provider of automated cell analysis solutions, especially focussing on cell counting, viability testing, and cell function analysis in research, as well as bioproduction. The purchase price for this transaction is 15 million Euros.
Read more ...
The Lancet Publishes Two-Year Results of Abbott's Fully Bioabsorbable Drug Eluting Stent
A comprehensive analysis published today in The Lancet, one of the world's leading medical journals, from the ABSORB clinical trial demonstrated that Abbott's bioabsorbable drug eluting stent, currently in development, successfully treated coronary artery disease and was absorbed into the walls of treated arteries within two years.
Read more ...