Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) unanimously (10-0) recommended approval of CTL019 (tisagenlecleucel), an investigational chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, for the treatment of relapsed or refractory (r/r) pediatric and young adult patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) and QB3@953 today announced that Darmiyan and Enable Biosciences have won the Amgen Golden Ticket at QB3@953. Each company receives one year of lab space at the QB3@953 life sciences incubator, additional facility benefits and connections to Amgen's scientific and business leaders to help advance their scientific programs.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that data from HAVEN 1, a phase III study evaluating once-weekly subcutaneous emicizumab prophylaxis (preventative) in adults and adolescents with haemophilia A with inhibitors, were published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) announced that the European Commission has approved BESPONSA® (inotuzumab ozogamicin) as monotherapy for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory CD22-positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This indication includes treatment of adults with Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+) as well as Philadelphia chromosome negative (Ph-) relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL.

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.