Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) today reported results for the third quarter of 2015, which were highlighted by strong global sales, key regulatory and clinical milestones in Immuno-Oncology and the completion of several business development transactions strengthening the company's diversified pipeline.

Sales of the Roche Group increased 6% to CHF 35.5 billion in the first nine months. Growth was driven by all regions in the Pharmaceuticals Division and Professional Diagnostics' sales. The Swiss franc strengthened considerably against the euro during the first nine months of 2015, whilst weakening against the US dollar.

AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) today announced an extension to their existing immuno-oncology collaboration exploring novel combination therapies for the treatment of patients with solid tumours. Under the terms of the expanded agreement, AstraZeneca and Lilly will evaluate the safety and efficacy of a range of additional combinations across the companies' complementary portfolios.

Novartis announced today that it is broadening its portfolio of cancer immunotherapies with the acquisition of Admune Therapeutics and licensing agreements with Palobiofarma and XOMA Corporation. With four candidates currently in clinical trials and five more agents expected to enter the clinic by the end of 2016,

Today, Novartis announced the launch of Novartis Access in Kenya, the first country to benefit from a portfolio of 15 affordable medicines to treat cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and breast cancer. The Novartis portfolio is being offered to the Kenyan government, non-governmental organizations and other public-sector healthcare providers for USD 1 per treatment, per month.

Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced the relaunch of its brand identity. The fundamental revision of the visual appearance as well as the introduction of a new logo reflect the transformation into a global science and technology company. At the same time, the brand architecture at business level has been simplified. Outside the United States and Canada, the company will operate uniformly as Merck.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Opdivo (nivolumab) injection, for intravenous use, for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR mutation or ALK translocation should have disease progression on appropriate targeted therapy prior to receiving Opdivo.