All in all, the Merck Group performed solidly during the first quarter of 2009. However, Merck is not an island. The recession is affecting the company's results, mainly in the Chemicals business sector. In addition, this year's first quarter is compared to a very strong first quarter in 2008. 
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has issued a preliminary injunction to prevent the launch of a generic version of Lilly's medicine Evista(R) (raloxifene HCl tablets) by Teva Pharmaceuticals until the Court renders its final ruling. 
Pfizer Regenerative Medicine today announced that it has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with University College London focused on gaining better understanding into how to develop stem cell-based therapies for certain ophthalmic conditions. The Pfizer/UCL collaboration brings together the pioneering work of university researchers in the field of cell-based therapies and Pfizer's expertise in the design and delivery of therapeutics. 
Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.08 for the first quarter of 2009, a decrease of 4 percent compared to $1.12 for the first quarter of 2008. Adjusted net income decreased 8 percent to $1,120 million in the first quarter of 2009 compared to $1,218 million in the first quarter of 2008. Pfizer Inc and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MVV) have signed an agreement that is designed to facilitate advancements in the battle against malaria, a disease that afflicts vulnerable populations in the developing world each year. Under the agreement, MMV will have access to the Pfizer library of novel chemical entities, in order to screen it for compounds that have the potential to be developed into new treatments for malaria. 
The Roche Group recorded total sales of 11.6 billion Swiss francs in the first quarter of 2009, an increase of 8% in local currencies (7% in Swiss francs; -1% in US dollars)1 compared with the year-earlier period. Growth was driven mainly by continued strong sales of key products in the Group's oncology, virology, ophthalmology and inflammation portfolios, and of Roche Diagnostics' immunoassay systems.
GSK has received a non-prescription licence for alli (orlistat 60mg); the first time the European Commission has approved a non-prescription product for weight loss. The centrally approved marketing authorisation means GSK can introduce alli for adults with a BMI of 28 kg/m2 or more, in all 27 EU member countries.