Bayer CropScience and the National Centre for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CNRS) in Paris, France, have renewed a framework agreement signed in 2005. The new, joint research projects pursued under this agreement are intended to contribute to ensuring a sustainable food supply for a growing world population in the context of climate change.

Novartis has announced a tender offer to acquire an additional stake of up to approximately 39% in its majority-owned Indian subsidiary, Novartis India Ltd., from public shareholders at a price of Rs 351 per share.

HemCon has announced results from an independent study investigating the time required to successfully treat fungal infected human nails which is a leading cause of Onychomycosis, the most common type of fungal nail infection. The studies were conducted as part of HemCon's continued program of development for a formulation based on its newest proprietary Mycosinate™ platform technology.

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), announced that its pandemic influenza vaccine for human use Emerflu®, has been granted marketing authorization from the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Emerflu® vaccine is now approved for the prevention of pandemic influenza in Australia upon official declaration of a pandemic.

Novartis has received a positive opinion supporting European Union (EU) approval of Glivec® (imatinib)* as a post-surgery treatment for patients at significant risk of relapse following removal of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended approval for Glivec based on positive findings from a pivotal Phase III study, which showed that use of Glivec after surgery reduces risk of recurrence by approximately 89%[1].

At the European Association of Urology (EAU) congress in Stockholm, Sweden, Bayer Schering Pharma presented new data that might change the image of therapy for erectile difficulties. Two independent placebo-controlled clinical studies demonstrated that Levitra® (vardenafil HCI) results in a significantly prolonged erection(1,2) which is a prerequisite for an increase in the duration of intercourse.

Merck KGaA announced that its Merck Serono division and Fast Forward, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American National Multiple Sclerosis Society, have entered a collaborative partnership to evaluate and fund promising multiple sclerosis (MS) research projects. Proposals will be jointly developed by Merck Serono and Fast Forward. Merck will provide up to $19 million in funding.