Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010. Worldwide sales increased 14.6 percent to $7.7 billion, including a favorable 4.1 percent effect of exchange rates.

Sandoz has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Oriel Therapeutics, a privately held US pharmaceuticals company, gaining exclusive rights to a portfolio of generic drug candidates and related technologies targeting medicines in the inhalable respiratory drug market.

To mark World Hemophilia Day, Bayer HealthCare is reaffirming its commitment to the global hemophilia community by pledging EUR 250,000 to the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH).

Novo Nordisk announced today the start of a global survey into the psychological and social effects of haemophilia. The study, named HERO (Haemophilia Experiences, Results and Opportunities), will assess factors such as the attitudes of patients and their families to diagnosis and treatment, their aspirations and the social context of haemophilia.

UCB's antiepileptic drug (AED) Vimpat® (lacosamide) featured in several studies and analyses presented at the 62nd annual American Academy of Neurology (AAN) meeting. These data offer additional clinical evidence supporting the use of lacosamide as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of adult patients with partial-onset seizures.

Stemgent, Inc. and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced a collaboration and research licensing agreement that will lead to certain research reagents developed or discovered by Pfizer being made available to the global research community through Stemgent.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) and Elron Electronics Ltd. (TASE:ELRN) have signed an agreement under which Roche will acquire 100% of Medingo Ltd., a majority-owned subsidiary of the Elron group.