Merck, a leading company for high-tech products in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors, today reiterated its commitment to investments in the Chinese market, strengthening a major pillar of its emerging markets growth strategy.

AstraZeneca today announced that MedImmune, its global biologics research and development arm, has entered into a clinical trial collaboration with Advaxis, Inc., a US-based biotechnology company developing cancer immunotherapies.

AstraZeneca today revealed the proposed designs for its new Global R&D Centre and Corporate Headquarters in Cambridge in the UK. The plans for the new facility, which will be located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC), include designs for the Global Centre, an R&D Enabling Building and an Energy Centre(1).

Novartis Group net sales increased 2% (+2% cc) to USD 14.6 billion in the second quarter. Growth products contributed USD 4.7 billion or 32% of Group net sales, up 18% (USD) over the prior-year quarter. Group operating income increased 6% (+11% cc) to USD 3.1 billion. Currency had a negative impact of 5 percentage points, primarily due to the stronger Swiss franc and weakening of emerging market currencies, partly offset by a stronger euro.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and InnoPharma, Inc., a privately held pharmaceutical development company, today announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Pfizer will acquire InnoPharma.

Novartis announced that its eye care division Alcon has entered into an agreement with a division of Google Inc. to in-license its "smart lens" technology for all ocular medical uses. The agreement with Google[x], a team within Google that is devoted to finding new solutions to big global problems,

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced today that it will sell its developed markets branded generics pharmaceuticals business to Mylan for equity ownership of a newly formed entity that will combine Mylan's existing business and Abbott's developed markets pharmaceuticals business, and will be a publicly traded company.