Bayer HealthCare AG and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that The New England Journal of Medicine published landmark results of a Nexavar study in liver cancer. The data of the Phase III trial showed that Nexavar® (sorafenib) tablets decreased the absolute risk of death by 31 percent in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or liver cancer, versus patients who received placebo.

Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) reported financial results for the second-quarter 2008. The Company recorded revenues of $12.1 billion, an increase of 9% compared with $11.1 billion in the year-ago quarter. In the U.S., revenues were $4.8 billion, a decrease of 2%, while international revenues were $7.4 billion, an increase of 18%. Revenues reflect the positive impact of foreign exchange, which increased revenues by approximately $800 million or 7%, as well as the solid performance of many key products.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is launching a ground-breaking new concept which will tap into the highest quality thinking in academia to optimise the early clinical development of new GSK medicines in a model of shared risk and reward.

• First-half results for continuing operations led by improving Pharmaceuticals performance ahead of expectations and expansion in Vaccines and Diagnostics
• Net sales rise 11% (+2% in local currencies) to USD 20.6 billion
• Operating income advances 12% to USD 4.9 billion on business expansion, productivity gains and currency benefits

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2008.

• Diluted earnings per share, excluding specified items, were $0.84, above Abbott's previously announced guidance range of $0.78 to $0.80, reflecting 21.7 percent growth. Diluted earnings per share under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) were $0.85, up 34.9 percent.

The 2008 Boehringer Ingelheim FENS Research Award goes to Pascal Fries, MD, PhD, from the F.C. Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. At the Congress of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) taking place from 12-16 July 2008 in Geneva, on the occasion of a special lecture by the prize winner, the Boehringer Ingelheim FENS Research Award will be presented for the fourth time.

Novartis has acquired a 25% stake in Alcon Inc. (NYSE: ACL) as part of a definitive agreement with Nestlé S.A. reached in April 2008 that provides the right to acquire majority ownership of the world leader in eye care in two steps.