An analysis of pooled safety data from 15 studies plus 4 extension studies involving more than 12,500 adults with type 2 diabetes demonstrated treatment with Jardiance® (empagliflozin) tablets (10 mg or 25 mg) was well tolerated, with no imbalance in lower limb amputations or bone fractures compared with placebo. The analysis, which includes the EMPA-REG OUTCOME® trial, was published this month in Advances in Therapy.(1)

Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced its commitment to award €1.25 million to research projects in the field of fertility, supporting the advancement of medical science through the Grant for Fertility Innovation (GFI) in 2017. Launched as the first of the Merck Grants for Innovation in 2009, Merck's GFI is providing encouragement for innovation and support for scientists to realize projects that could potentially lead to the next breakthrough in the fertility treatment area.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) and mySugr have signed an agreement under which Roche acquired all shares of mySugr GmbH. Counting more than one million users globally, mySugr is one of the leading mobile diabetes platforms in the market and will become an integral part of Roche's new patient-centered digital health services platform in diabetes care.

'More than Systemic Sclerosis: The Inside Story' launches today to mark World Scleroderma Day. This global initiative highlights the importance of understanding the 'inside story' of each individual living with systemic sclerosis, and to increase awareness of the potential serious consequences when fibrosis develops in vital organs such as the lungs.

Pfizer Inc., (NYSE:PFE) one of the world's premier biopharmaceutical companies, broke ground on a state-of-the art Research and Development (R&D) and process development facility at 875 W. Chesterfield Parkway, Chesterfield, MO. The new campus will be owned by Pfizer and will bring together more than 450 employees who currently work at multiple locations which the company leases in the St. Louis area.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Rituxan Hycela™ (rituximab and hyaluronidase human) for subcutaneous (under the skin) injection, for the treatment of adults with the following blood cancers: previously untreated and relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and previously untreated and previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).

Novartis today announced topline results from the global Phase III CANTOS study investigating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ACZ885 (canakinumab) in combination with standard of care in people with a prior heart attack and inflammatory atherosclerosis. With more than 10,000 patients enrolled in the study over the last six years, CANTOS is one of the largest and longest-running clinical trials in Novartis' history.