Pfizer Inc announced today that the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has upheld the two main U.S. patents covering Celebrex, the company's selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medicine used to treat pain and inflammation. The patents had been challenged by generic manufacturer Teva Pharmaceuticals USA.

The Japanese pharmaceutical company DAIICHI SANKYO Group has purchased the European rights to the osteoporosis medication EVISTA® from the U.S. Company Eli Lilly and Company. In the process, the company is planning to gain additional sales volume of approximately €80 million.

Genzyme Corp. (Nasdaq: GENZ) announced the U.S. launch of the phosphate binder Renvela® (sevelamer carbonate) for dialysis patients, as well as significant progress in its international efforts to secure additional approvals for the product. Genzyme has submitted a marketing authorization application to the European Medicines Agency seeking approval of Renvela for the control of serum phosphorus in chronic kidney disease patients regardless of whether they are on dialysis.

Pfizer Inc. reviewed strategies to accelerate and refocus Pfizer's pipeline and capture new opportunities for global growth at a meeting for investment analysts. "We have made real changes in how we operate our business – in our structure, culture and leadership – so that we have a much stronger foundation in place for pursuing the many opportunities before us," said Chairman and CEO Jeff Kindler.

GlaxoSmithKline announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Priority Review for Promacta®/Revolade® (eltrombopag) for the short-term treatment of patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

US District Court for the District of New Jersey ruled against the validity of Bayer Schering Pharma's 531 patent for the company’s oral contraceptive Yasmin, the result of a patent challenge by generic manufacturer Barr Laboratories. Bayer disagrees with the court's decision and will consider its legal options in this regard. The company will continue to vigorously defend its intellectual property.

Pfizer Inc today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Serenex, Inc., a privately-held biotechnology company with a Phase I clinical candidate and an extensive compound library that targets Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90), an exciting target in the fight against cancer.