Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim confirmed that the strategic transaction signed in June 2016, which consists of an exchange of Sanofi's animal health business (Merial) and Boehringer Ingelheim's consumer healthcare (CHC) business, has been successfully closed in most markets on January 1st 2017.

Look back at the most prominent moments from the year 2016. We are proud to announce the 20 most popular World Pharma News from 2016, the most commonly viewed news according the collected web statistics.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that the primary endpoint has been met for the phase III HAVEN 1 study evaluating emicizumab prophylaxis in people 12 years of age or older with haemophilia A and inhibitors to factor VIII. The study showed a statistically significant reduction in the number of bleeds over time in people treated with emicizumab prophylaxis compared to those receiving no prophylactic treatment.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) and PsiOxus Therapeutics, Ltd. (PsiOxus) today announced an agreement granting Bristol-Myers Squibb exclusive worldwide rights to NG-348, a pre-clinical stage, "armed" oncolytic virus with the goal of addressing solid tumors. The agreement is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.

Novartis announced today the signing of an exclusive option, collaboration and license agreement with Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of novel medicines to treat liver disease. This agreement will enable Novartis and Conatus to jointly develop emricasan.

Novartis announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Ziarco Group Limited, a privately held company focused on the development of novel treatments in dermatology. This acquisition would add a once-daily oral H4 receptor antagonist in development for atopic dermatitis (AD), commonly known as eczema, to complement the growing Novartis dermatology portfolio and pipeline.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) has announced that it will expand the company's Advancing Science through Pfizer Investigator Research Exchange (ASPIRE) program in 2017 to award up to $5.5 million (USD) in new competitive grants to fund research studies involving Pfizer products in both breast and hematologic cancers. This expanded program will be known as the ASPIRE Oncology/Hematology Clinical Research Awards.