AstraZeneca announced the launch of a new clinical trial, SATURN, designed to measure the impact of CRESTOR™ (rosuvastatin) 40 mg and atorvastatin (Lipitor®) 80 mg on the progression of atherosclerosis in high risk patients.

Pharmion Corporation (Nasdaq: PHRM) announced the submission of a MAA with the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for Vidaza(R) (azacitidine for injection) in the treatment of patients with higher-risk MDS in the European Union (EU).

Pfizer Inc announced that a New York state court ruled in favor of the company on an important motion relating to litigation over Pfizer's Celebrex medication. New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley W. Kornreich ruled that the plaintiffs suing Pfizer in New York failed to present reliable scientific evidence necessary to prove that Celebrex can cause heart attacks and strokes at 200 mg daily - the most commonly prescribed dosage of the Pfizer pain medication.

Roche announced that it has entered into four new technology transfers with local manufacturing companies in Africa and Asia; Regal Pharmaceuticals in Kenya, CAPS Holdings in Zimbabwe, Shelys Pharmaceuticals in Tanzania and Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd in Bangladesh.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) and Avista Capital Partners, a leading private equity firm, announced today that Avista has completed its acquisition of Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging, a business unit of Bristol-Myers Squibb. Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging is a leading supplier of medical imaging products for nuclear and ultrasound cardiovascular diagnostic imaging procedures.

Genzyme Corp. (Nasdaq: GENZ) and Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISIS) announced that they have entered a major strategic alliance in which Genzyme will develop and commercialize mipomersen, Isis' lipid-lowering treatment for high risk cardiovascular patients that utilizes novel antisense technology. As part of the strategic relationship, Genzyme will also have preferred access to future Isis drugs for CNS and certain rare diseases.

Pfizer Inc and Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. have signed a definitive agreement, which replaces the letter of intent previously signed between the companies, for worldwide (excluding Japan) collaboration to research, develop and commercialize TS-032, a new schizophrenia drug candidate discovered by Taisho, currently in pre-clinical development.