Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany, is progressing with the development of florbetaben to support Alzheimer diagnosis. On the occasion of the 95th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), the company announced the enrollment of first patients in an international clinical Phase III trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of florbetaben (BAY 94-9172) PET imaging in the detection of beta-Amyloid deposition in the brain.

Novartis has gained exclusive rights to two oral targeted investigational therapies for patients with a range of life-threatening blood disorders and cancers that currently do not have effective treatment options.

H. Lundbeck A/S announced the initiation of a multi-centre, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose study of Lu AE58054 as add-on to donepezil in patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease. The clinical phase II study is planned to enrol approximately 270 patients.

TikoMed AB, a biotechnology company focused on development and commercialization of innovative treatments for immune diseases and cell therapies, today announced that IBsolvMIR® has been granted orphan drug designation for the prevention of graft rejection of pancreatic islet transplantation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Today, Novartis officially inaugurated the US's first ever large-scale flu cell culture vaccine and adjuvant manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina. The facility is a result of a partnership between Novartis and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Merck KGaA announced plans to strengthen its global research and development (R&D) capabilities of its Merck Serono division by establishing a global R&D center in Beijing, China. Merck is planning to invest more than € 150 million and create more than 200 new qualified jobs over the next four years to set up the China R&D center and conduct R&D activities in China.

Merck & Co., Inc. announced the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended approval of ELONVA® (corifollitropin alfa injection) as a treatment in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in combination with a GnRH antagonist for the development of multiple follicles in women participating in an assisted reproductive technology (ART) program.