Bayer Schering Pharma's new low-dose oral contraceptive YAZ® has been approved in the EU. YAZ® will be the first oral contraceptive on the European market containing the unique progestin drospirenone combined with a low dose of ethinyl estradiol in a new dosing regimen of 24 days of active hormone tablets and four days of placebo. 
Boehringer Ingelheim announced that the European Commission has given the full marketing authorisation to its HIV protease inhibitor (PI), Aptivus® (tipranavir). The Commission has fully approved Aptivus ® for the suppression of HIV in highly treatment experienced patients who have developed resistance to other protease inhibitors. 
A team of researchers from Novo Nordisk is nominated for Europe's top innovation prize, Inventor of the Year 2008 Award, that will be presented at a ceremony in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 6 May by the European Patent Office and the European Commission. 
GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) announced that Fountain Acquisition Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GSK, is commencing a cash tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SIRT) (Sirtris), for $22.50 in cash without interest and less any required withholding taxes. 
Abbott and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited have concluded their TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. (TAP) joint venture. The closing of the agreement to evenly divide the value of the more than 30-year-old joint venture marks the conclusion of one of the most successful joint ventures in the history of American business. 
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. a biopharmaceutical company formed to focus on the discovery and development of compounds to treat cardiovascular and metabolic disease, today announced that it has been launched as a privately held, independent enterprise. 
H. Lundbeck A/S and Neurim Pharmaceuticals Ltd. announced that Lundbeck has obtained expanded exclusive rights to commercialize Circadin® in Asia, Latin America and other major markets such as Australia and Turkey. Following regulatory filing and approval Lundbeck expects to market Circadin® in the first markets outside of Europe in 2009. 