Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced two appointments in two regions important for its biopharma business. Gary Zieziula will lead Merck's biopharma business in North America and Marc Horn will take the helm of the biopharma business in China.

The European Commission (EC) has taken an EU-wide legally binding decision and confirmed the favorable benefit/risk profile of ambroxol and bromhexine containing medicines. This decision follows the opinion of the Coordination Group for Mutual Recognition and Decentralised Procedures - Human (CMDh) as well as the recommendation of the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) within the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced the launch of its new consumer brand Vivera® in Latin America. Vivera is being launched first in Chile in January 2016, to be followed by several major Latin American markets later in 2016.

Boehringer Ingelheim and Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARNA) have signed an exclusive agreement to conduct joint research to identify drug candidates targeting an undisclosed G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), which belongs to the group of orphan CNS receptors.

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, has signed an agreement with the Human Vaccines Project Inc. to partially fund the non-profit, public-private partnership convening leading academic researchers and industrial partners to solve the primary problems impeding vaccine/immunotherapy development by "decoding" the human immune system.

Novartis has announced that it is adding to its diverse and deep immuno-oncology pipeline through a strategic alliance and licensing agreement with Surface Oncology. The agreement gives Novartis access to four pre-clinical programs that target regulatory T cell populations, inhibitory cytokines, and immunosuppressive metabolites in the tumor microenvironment.

Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPG) and Baxalta Incorporated (NYSE: BXLT) announced that the boards of directors of both companies have reached an agreement under which Shire will combine with Baxalta.