Novartis announced the availability of Prevacid®24HR (lansoprazole delayed-release capsules 15 mg/acid reducer) over-the-counter in pharmacies and retail stores across the US to treat frequent heartburn. Prevacid®24HR received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in May 2009.

Nycomed reports continued satisfactory performance in the third quarter 2009, with total net turnover increasing by 0.9% (3.2% in local currencies) to €820.0 million. Pantoprazole sales were resilient after losing patent protection in May in 12 European countries. On a regional basis, sales in most emerging markets exhibited strong growth. The pipeline portfolio advanced significantly.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced a definitive agreement to acquire the global rights to PanGenetics BV's PG110 fully humanized antibody to Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), expanding the company's pain care portfolio and leveraging its expertise in biologics. PG110 is a novel biologic in Phase I clinical trial development that targets NGF for the treatment of chronic pain.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for its unadjuvanted influenza A (H1N1) pandemic vaccine.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) and Alder Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., announced a global agreement for the development and commercialization of ALD518, a novel biologic that has completed Phase IIa development for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has awarded prequalification for global use of Synflorix™, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals' pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. This is the first prequalification for a vaccine against pneumococcal disease, which is a life-threatening disease affecting many children under five in developing countries.

Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) today announced that the Phase 3 PRIME "203" trial evaluating Vectibix® (panitumumab) administered in combination with FOLFOX (an oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy) as a first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) failed to meet a secondary endpoint of overall survival.