The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ilaris® (canakinumab) for the treatment of children and adults with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS), which includes a number of rare but life-long auto-inflammatory disorders with debilitating symptoms and limited treatment options[1],[2],[3],[4].

Nycomed received marketing authorisation from the European Commission for five applications: PANTOZOL Control®, PANTOLOC Control®, PANTECTA Control®, SOMAC Control® and CONTROLOC Control®. This new OTC medication is intended for short-term treatment of reflux symptoms (e.g. heartburn, acid regurgitation) in adults as a medicinal product not subject to medical prescription.

GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) has announced an agreement with Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd (Dr. Reddy's) to develop and market selected products across an extensive number of emerging markets, excluding India.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) has announced the initiation of SPIRIT PRIME, a clinical trial to study the performance of the company's next-generation XIENCE PRIME(TM) Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System, currently an investigational device, for the treatment of coronary artery disease. Results from SPIRIT PRIME will be used to support the regulatory filing for XIENCE PRIME in the United States.

Boehringer Ingelheim and Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today that they have entered into a significant worldwide collaboration to research and develop beta-secretase (BACE) inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Current therapies for Alzheimer's disease can improve symptoms, but do not affect the progression of the disease.

Goal is to foster open collaboration between Lilly and global laboratory researchers
Alzheimer's disease. Cancer. Diabetes. Osteoporosis.
These are the diseases for which Eli Lilly and Company will be engaging researchers from around the world in a new and unique drug discovery initiative.

Novartis has successfully completed the production of the first batch of influenza A(H1N1) vaccine, weeks ahead of expectations. Cell-based manufacturing technology[1] allows vaccine production to be initiated once a pandemic virus strain is identified without the need to adapt the virus strain to grow in eggs, as with traditional vaccine technologies. This advance has cut weeks off the time required to begin vaccine production.