Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced a definitive agreement with Piramal Healthcare Limited to acquire full ownership of Piramal's Healthcare Solutions business (Domestic Formulations), a leader in the Indian branded generics market, for an up-front payment of $2.12 billion, plus $400 million annually for the next four years, giving Abbott the No. 1 position in the Indian pharmaceutical market.

Pfizer Global Manufacturing announced plans to reconfigure its worldwide plant network to create a fully aligned manufacturing and supply organization from the combined networks of Pfizer and Wyeth.

Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503), a global pharmaceutical company, and OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSIP), a biotechnology company primarily focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of molecular targeted therapies addressing medical needs in oncology, diabetes and obesity, have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Astellas will acquire OSI.

Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced the creation of the Sanofi Espoir Corporate Foundation, dedicated to implementing health and solidarity programs worldwide.

Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) and Nycomed announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a complete response letter regarding the New Drug Application (NDA) for roflumilast.

Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany, will establish a U.S. Innovation Center in San Francisco, Calif. with the goal to expand its global research network and build its specialty pharmaceutical pipeline.

H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) announced that the results from the pivotal study with escitalopram in Japan have been received. The results are positive and according to expectations.