Following a priority review, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tasigna® (nilotinib) for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced that new data being presented at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) congress demonstrates that RoACTEMRA (known as ACTEMRA outside Europe) is highly effective in improving the signs and symptoms of systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (sJIA), a severe childhood arthritis, where there are no currently licensed treatments.

Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany, and OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced a global strategic alliance to discover, develop and commercialize novel anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics targeting the Wnt signaling pathway.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. have entered into a collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize elagolix for the treatment of endometriosis-related pain. Elagolix is a novel, first-in-class oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, which has recently completed a phase IIb study in endometriosis.

Telmisartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker, is one of the best researched drugs worldwide. It has been studied in clinical trials in more than 50,000 patients. Its positive safety profile has been confirmed also in a market exposure of 34.5 million patient years.

Genzyme Corporation (Nasdaq: GENZ) announced that its alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis development program has been granted Fast Track status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) has signed agreements with ICON and PAREXEL, two leading providers of clinical development services to the biopharmaceutical industry, for joint strategic, operational and capability support of the company's clinical development program.