Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) is set to strengthen its global leadership position in oncology and to expand in therapeutic areas such as metabolism, inflammation and diseases of the central nervous system.

AstraZeneca announced results of a new analysis of the PLATO study which showed there were fewer deaths in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who took the investigational oral antiplatelet BRILINTA (ticagrelor) within seven days prior to having heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft, CABG) compared to those who took clopidogrel.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced positive 30-day results from the first 101 patients enrolled in the second phase of the ABSORB trial. Patients treated with Abbott's bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS), under clinical investigation in Europe, demonstrated no cases of blood clots (thrombosis), no need for repeat procedures

Pfizer Inc. announced the discontinuation of A4021018 (also known as ADVIGO 1018), a Phase 3 trial examining the effects of investigational compound figitumumab (CP-751,871) in combination with erlotinib as a second/third-line treatment in patients with previously treated advanced non-adenocarcinoma non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) has completed its acquisition of 100% of Chattem, Inc., which is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the sanofi-aventis Group.

Roche and Biogen Idec announced their decision to suspend Ocrelizumab treatment of patients in the Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) programme. The decision follows the recommendation of the independent Ocrelizumab RA & Lupus Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) based on their assessment of the studies in RA (SCRIPT, FEATURE, FILM and STAGE) and lupus (BELONG and BEGIN).

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and Facet Biotech Corporation (Nasdaq: FACT) announced today a definitive agreement for Abbott to acquire Facet, enhancing Abbott's early- and mid-stage pharmaceutical pipeline.