The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted Pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate) for routine use within the National Health Service (NHS) of Scotland for its currently licensed indication: the prevention of venous thromboembolic events in adults who have undergone total hip or knee replacement surgery.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that it has completed its acquisition of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Sirtris) for approximately USD720 million (or approx. GBP362 million) through a cash tender offer of USD22.50 (or approx. GBP11.33) per share.

Nycomed agreed with 4SC on the sale of a major part of Nycomed's R&D projects in the field of oncology. Eight projects in the preclinical and first clinical stage will be transferred to 4SC. The agreement is part of Nycomed's strategic decision not to further invest in oncology R&D activities.

Bayer HealthCare announced that it is awarding more than US-Dollar 2.5 million in funding through its Bayer Hemophilia Awards Program (BHAP). 21 individuals from 12 countries will be supported for their hemophilia research activities and clinical projects.

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) and Neose Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq GM: NTEC) announced that Novo Nordisk has completed the initial phase 1 clinical trial with NN7128 (GlycoPEGylated factor VIIa), a long-acting version of NovoSeven® coagulation factor FVIIa (recombinant) administered intravenously.

New Phase III data showed that in patients with multiple lipid problems, Abbott's investigational TriLipix(TM) (ABT-335) combined with AstraZeneca's CRESTOR(R) (rosuvastatin calcium) led to greater improvements than the corresponding monotherapy in treating all three key lipids - LDL "bad" cholesterol, HDL "good" cholesterol and triglycerides.

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has been formally notified by Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG of its decision to withdraw its application for a centralised marketing authorisation for the medicine DuoCover (fixed-dose combination tablets of 75 mg clopidogrel/75 mg acetylsalicylic acid and 75 mg clopidogrel/100 mg acetylsalicylic acid).