Sanofi-aventis announced that the European Commission has granted competition law clearance to the proposed acquisition of Zentiva NV (Zentiva) by sanofi-aventis Europe. Sanofi-aventis welcomes this decision, which will allow the Offer to proceed. The offer expiration date is maintained at February 20, 2009.

In 2008, Roche continued its strong sales performance. Total sales grew by 6% in local currencies (-1% in Swiss francs; 10% in US dollars) to 45.6 billion Swiss francs, with the Pharmaceuticals Division representing 79% of Group sales and the Diagnostics Division contributing 21%. The sales increase in the underlying business more than compensated for the anticipated decline in Tamiflu pandemic sales of 1.6 billion Swiss francs.

Roche today announced interim results from a phase III study (ATLAS) in patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study was stopped early because of the significance of the interim data. The results showed that Tarceva (erlotinib) plus Avastin (bevacizumab) given as first line maintenance treatment following initial therapy with Avastin plus chemotherapy extends the time patients live without their disease getting worse (progression free survival) compared to maintenance therapy with Avastin plus placebo.

Patients treated with Lipitor® (atorvastatin calcium) 80 mg had a significant 55 percent reduction in levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), while those taking Lipitor 10 mg had a significant 21 percent reduction in hsCRP levels at the end of 26 weeks compared to baseline, according to the results from the primary endpoint of a new study.

Pharmaceuticals led the strong performance supported by contributions from Vaccines and Diagnostics and Consumer Health. Net sales rose 9% (+5% in local currencies, or lc) to USD 41.5 billion. Higher sales volumes provided six percentage points of growth, while positive currency translation added four percentage points. Price changes had a negative effect of one point, while acquisitions had no impact.

Pfizer Inc announced today the discontinuation of a Phase III study of its investigational agent axitinib for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. Based on an interim analysis, an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) found no evidence of improvement in the primary endpoint of survival in patients treated with axitinib and gemcitabine, compared to gemcitabine alone, the current standard of care for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

AstraZeneca has delivered a robust performance in an increasingly challenging market environment. Good headway is being made in further improving the efficiency of the organization, and the expansion in the scope of our restructuring efforts is another important step towards sustaining long-term competitiveness.