Today, it was announced that Novo Nordisk ranks second on the 2014 Access to Medicine Index, climbing four places since the 2012 Index. Novo Nordisk's ranking is a reflection of the company's inclusion of access to medicine within its core business, including equitable pricing strategies, local capability building and integrating philanthropy with business activities.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) today announced plans to construct a new state-of-the-art, large-scale biologics manufacturing facility in Cruiserath, County Dublin, Ireland, that will produce multiple therapies for the company's growing biologics portfolio.

AstraZeneca today announced that it has begun a pre-clinical development programme to evaluate the ability of investigational antibody, MEDI2452, to rapidly and specifically reverse the antiplatelet effects of ticagrelor (BRILINTA®) in rare emergency situations such as urgent surgery, or in the event of major bleeding.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today it will invest 450 million Swiss Francs over the next three years to establish a new diagnostic manufacturing facility at the Suzhou Industrial Park, in Suzhou, China. The new manufacturing site sets out to address the continuously growing demand for diagnostic tests in China and the Asia Pacific region.

Sales of the Bayer Group rose by 5.6 percent in the third quarter of 2014 to EUR 10,187 million (Q3 2013: EUR 9,643 million). Adjusted for currency and portfolio effects (Fx & portfolio adj.), sales grew by 7.4 percent. EBIT rose by 12.7 percent to EUR 1,376 million (Q3 2013: EUR 1,221 million).

AstraZeneca has launched a programme aimed at tackling the burden of hypertension in Africa. Healthy Heart Africa is designed in consultation and collaboration with non-governmental and community based organisations, international organisations, health experts and governments to support local health systems by increasing awareness of the symptoms and risks of hypertension and offering education, screening, treatment and control.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) and F-star Alpha Ltd. have entered into an agreement that provides Bristol-Myers Squibb the exclusive option to acquire F-star Alpha Ltd, and gain worldwide rights to its lead asset FS102.