An early proof-of-concept study shows promising results for imatinib in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a severe, incurable blood vessel disorder. Preliminary findings from a 59-patient, multi-center Phase II clinical trial suggest imatinib provides a treatment benefit, as demonstrated by a significant improvement in pulmonary vascular resistance and a numerical increase in cardiac output, key hemodynamic measures used to monitor the progression of the disease.

Genzyme Corporation (Nasdaq: GENZ) has announced that scientists have again named the company a top employer in a survey ranking the reputations of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. This year Genzyme moved up in the ranking to third on the global list of nearly 500 companies, the highest ranking it has ever earned.

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) has announced that Dr Esther Barreiro, Municipal Institute of Medical Investigation/Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain is this year's winner of the Society's annual award for research in the field of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Novo Nordisk A/S and Innate Pharma have reached an agreement by which Innate Pharma is granted development and commercialisation rights to NN1975/IPH 2101 in exchange for EUR 2.5 million upfront payment, milestone payments and royalties on future sales of IPH 2101.

Based on positive Phase II trial findings, Bayer Schering Pharma will move into Phase III trials with its oral agent riociguat (BAY 63-2521). Riociguat is the first member of a new class of vasodilating agents called soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators.

Boehringer Ingelheim has signed a licence agreement with Evec, Inc., Japan, for one of its fully-human therapeutic antibody programmes. Based on the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will obtain worldwide exclusive development and commercialisation rights for the complete programme.

Roche is investing 215 million Swiss francs (136 million euros) in research, development and production at its site in Penzberg, near Munich. The money will be used to construct a multi-purpose building for Roche Diagnostics.