Nycomed and EffRx have announced a licensing agreement on EffRx' drug EX101 (effervescent alendronate) for the treatment of osteoporosis. Under the agreement, Nycomed will receive the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise the effervescent formulation of alendronate for the treatment of osteoporosis in a large number of countries worldwide. EX101 presents a significant enhancement to Nycomed's osteoporosis portfolio.

Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a complete response letter for SAPHRIS(TM) (asenapine) sublingual tablets in the acute treatment of schizophrenia in adults and in the acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults as monotherapy.

European clinicians will have a new weapon to combat cervical cancer with the introduction of Abbott Molecular's real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based diagnostic test for human papillomavirus (HPV). The CE-marked assay can identify patients infected with specific viral genotypes known to pose the highest risk for progression to cervical cancer.

Genzyme Corp. (Nasdaq: GENZ) and Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISIS) have begun two new studies of mipomersen, a novel lipid-lowering drug in late-stage development, and a third is currently screening patients. These three trials will provide additional data on mipomersen in high-risk patient populations.

GlaxoSmithKline plc [LSE/NYSE: GSK] has announced the successful completion of the tender offer by its wholly-owned subsidiary Gemstone Acquisition Corporation for shares of common stock of Genelabs Technologies, Inc. [Nasdaq: GNLB].

Pfizer Inc announced today that the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has issued a "Notice of Allowance" accepting the company's application to correct the technical defect in the '995 enantiomer patent for atorvastatin calcium, the salt form of atorvastatin sold as Lipitor.

Novo Nordisk and VLST Corporation, a Seattle-based biotechnology company focused on the development of therapeutics for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, have entered into an exclusive, worldwide collaboration agreement to develop therapeutic targets utilising VLST's technology platform in the fields of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.