Pfizer Inc has announced that, following a review of the development and commercial portfolios in the Primary Care Business Unit, it is terminating Phase 3 development programs for the investigational compounds esreboxetine for fibromyalgia and PD 332,334 for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

For Nycomed the twelve months of 2008 have been satisfactory and most of the markets performed well and met expectations. Key products developed strongly, with the exception of Pantoprazole sales in the United States and Canada, which is due to “at-risk” launch and generic competition, respectively. The company's integration restructuring showed its full cost-savings effect in 2008.

Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) has announced a license agreement between Nobilon, Schering-Plough's human vaccine business unit, and the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide access to pandemic influenza vaccine manufacturing technology to developing countries.

Further to the results of prior studies published last year, Almirall, the international pharmaceutical company based in Spain, announced new Phase II multi-dose study results demonstrating that its novel once-daily, inhaled, long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) -LAS100977-, for the treatment of bronchoconstriction in asthmatic patients, shows fast-acting and 24-hour efficacy, as well as a good safety and tolerability profile in patients during multiple dose administrations.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) has received merger control clearance from the European Commission for its acquisition of Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) through a cash tender offer for the outstanding shares of common stock of AMO. The European Commission approved the transaction without conditions.

Merck KGaA announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended to the European Commission the suspension of the marketing authorization for Raptiva® (efalizumab). Raptiva is currently approved for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis who have failed to respond to, or who have a contraindication to, or are intolerant to certain other systemic therapies.

GlaxoSmithKline has announced initiation and dosing of the first patient of the Phase III clinical trial programme to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the investigational GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide 1) agonist Syncria® (albiglutide) in men and women with type 2 diabetes. The Phase III programme will include more than 4,000 patients.