Newly published data in The New England Journal of Medicine affirm five-year upfront use of Femara® (letrozole) following surgery as an optimal treatment approach versus tamoxifen for postmenopausal women with early stage breast cancer (hormone-receptor positive).

Nycomed reports sustained momentum in the second quarter 2009, with total net turnover increasing by 0.5% to €786.9 million excluding the impact of the Sepracor execution payment received in the first half of 2008. This performance is driven by Nycomed's Key Products. Pantoprazole turnover in Europe dropped only moderately after loosing patent protection in May.

Recognizing that patient participation in clinical trials is the key to progress in medical research, Pfizer Inc has entered into a collaboration with Private Access, the innovator in privacy-enhanced search technology, to create a new online community aimed at increasing clinical trial awareness and participation.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Extavia® (interferon beta-1b), the first in a new planned portfolio of multiple sclerosis (MS) medicines from Novartis to help patients manage this devastating disease.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALXN) announced today that Soliris(R) (eculizumab), its first-in-class complement inhibitor, has been granted Orphan Medicinal Product Designation by the European Commission for the treatment of patients with atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS).

Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) has announced positive top-line results from a Phase 3 trial evaluating Vectibix (panitumumab) in combination with FOLFIRI (an irinotecan-based chemotherapy) as a second-line treatment in 1,186 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The co-primary endpoints, tested independently, were progression-free and overall survival.

GSK issued an update on its progress to develop a vaccine against the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus, and announced that it has commenced the clinical development programme for its adjuvanted pandemic vaccine. Enrolment into this first study has been completed.