AstraZeneca announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved IRESSA (gefitinib) tablets, 250mg once daily, for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours have epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) substitution mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test.

Pfizer's Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI) and the Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF) announced a collaboration agreement to conduct research in the field of immunological diseases. CTI and JMF will identify and co-fund translational research projects with leading academic medical centers within the CTI network.

AstraZeneca announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Tillotts Pharma AG (Tillotts), part of the Zeria Group, for the divestment of global rights, outside the US, to Entocort® (budesonide), a gastroenterology medicine for patients with mild to moderate Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Novartis Pharmaceuticals announced the release of new features for its ViaOpta applications, and the extension for use with smart watches. The discreet, hands-free nature of using ViaOpta app with wearable devices, such as Apple Watch and Android Wear, provides users with an experience that seamlessly fits into their existing routines allowing those with visual impairments to navigate daily life with even greater ease.

Novartis announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Spinifex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Spinifex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a US and Australian-based, privately held development stage company, focused on developing a peripheral approach to treat neuropathic pain such as EMA401, a novel angiotensin II Type 2 receptor (AT2R) antagonist.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) has entered into an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to acquire its quadrivalent meningitis ACWY vaccines, Nimenrix and Mencevax, for a total consideration of approximately $130 million (€115 million).

For its second "Meet Novartis Management" investor day, Novartis gathered more than 20 of its top executives from Pharmaceuticals, Alcon, Sandoz and NIBR, to meet with approximately 100 investors and analysts at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research in Boston.