The Board of AstraZeneca PLC notes the announcement by Pfizer Inc. of its final proposal to combine the two companies. Leif Johansson, Chairman of AstraZeneca mentioned that the final proposal is a minor improvement which continues to fall short of the Board's view of value and has been rejected.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Latin American pharmaceutical company CFR Pharmaceuticals, more than doubling its Latin American branded generics pharmaceutical presence and further expanding Abbott's presence in fast-growing markets. Under the terms of the agreement, Abbott will acquire the holding company that indirectly owns approximately 73 percent of CFR Pharmaceuticals and will conduct a public cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of CFR.

AstraZeneca announced that MedImmune, its global biologics research and development arm, has entered into a clinical study collaboration with biopharmaceutical company Incyte Corporation. The Phase I/II oncology study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of MedImmune's investigational anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, MEDI4736, in combination with Incyte's oral indoleamine dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) inhibitor, INCB24360.

In order to add to scientific and medical progress, Boehringer Ingelheim is engaged in a program to make clinical study data and other clinical study related documents more widely accessible for approved products or after termination of a drug development program.

Bayer HealthCare will start sharing data from its clinical studies through the internet portal http://www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com. From now on, qualified researchers can request anonymized patient-level data from Bayer HealthCare sponsored clinical studies listed on the website. By joining the portal, Bayer HealthCare is supporting efforts of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to increase the transparency of data from clinical studies.

Pfizer wishes to enter into discussions with AstraZeneca regarding a potential combination of the two companies and is "disappointed at the lack of engagement by the AstraZeneca Board". The Board of AstraZeneca notes the announcement made by Pfizer and states that the "announcement contains no new proposal nor substantive new information."

Today Novartis associates across 55 countries are engaging in local volunteer efforts to support their communities in celebration of the company's annual Community Partnership Day (CPD). This year marks the 18th Community Partnership Day commemorating the 1996 creation of Novartis as a global leader in healthcare. There is strong participation from all Novartis divisions in 2014.