AstraZeneca and Heptares Therapeutics, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Sosei Group Corporation, have entered into a licensing agreement under which AstraZeneca will acquire exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise the adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, HTL-1071, a small molecule immuno-oncology candidate, and potential additional A2A receptor-blocking compounds.

AstraZeneca today announced that MedImmune, its global biologics research and development arm, has entered into an exclusive clinical trial collaboration with Mirati Therapeutics, Inc., an oncology company focusing on genetic and epigenetic drivers of cancer.

Pfizer Inc. and Synthon, an international pharmaceutical company specializing in the development of complex generic medicines, today announced they have entered into an agreement whereby Pfizer has acquired the exclusive commercialization rights in the United States to glatiramer acetate, a potential generic version of the originator medicine Copaxone® for the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) has announced the establishment of the Immuno-Oncology Rare Population Malignancy (I-O RPM) program in the U.S. The I-O RPM program is a multi-institutional initiative with academic-based cancer centers focused on the clinical investigation of Immuno-Oncology therapeutics as potential treatment options for patients with high risk, poor prognostic cancers, defined as a rare population malignancy.

AstraZeneca and Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced a strategic collaboration to discover and develop antisense therapies for cardiovascular, metabolic and renal diseases. The new collaboration builds on a broad existing relationship between the two companies and supports AstraZeneca's strategic approach in these therapeutic areas using novel RNA-targeted treatments.

Merck, a leading company for innovative, top-quality high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials, is calling for national and international start-ups to apply for funding of innovative ideas by August 14, 2015.

The Bayer Group continued to grow sales in the second quarter of 2015 and significantly increased earnings. Sales of HealthCare increased by 28.0 percent (Fx & portfolio adj. 8.3 percent) to EUR 5,908 million in the second quarter (Q2 2014: EUR 4,615 million).