The Bayer Group continued its positive business momentum in the third quarter of 2013, with substantial contributions from the Life Science businesses HealthCare and CropScience. Reported sales of the Bayer Group were level year on year (minus 0.2 percent) at EUR 9,643 million (Q3 2012: EUR 9,661 million).

GSK and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) have announced the launch of a new joint initiative that will endeavour to make vaccines more resistant to heat, thus reducing the need for refrigeration. GSK and BMGF will invest a combined $1.8 million in early stage research into vaccine thermostability.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) reported financial results for third-quarter 2013. Reported revenues decreased $310 million, or 2%, which reflects an operational decline of $38 million, or less than 1%, and the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange of $272 million, or 2%. The operational decrease was primarily the result of the continued erosion for branded Lipitor in the U.S., developed Europe and certain other markets.

AstraZeneca today announced the start of the Phase III Windward programme for benralizumab, a potential treatment for severe uncontrolled asthma developed by MedImmune, the company's global biologics research and development arm. The goal of CALIMA, the first study in the Windward programme, is to determine whether benralizumab reduces the number of exacerbations in patients with severe asthma that remains uncontrolled, despite receiving high doses of inhaled corticosteroids in combination with a second controller such as a long-acting beta agonist.

The Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC) announced today, at the 15th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in Sydney, Australia, a campaign, supported by Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), to increase the knowledge and understanding of real world challenges facing individuals and families battling lung cancer. 'Lung Cancer: We're Listening' will gather much needed feedback from individuals touched by lung cancer - including patients, carers, family members, friends, healthcare professionals and work colleagues.

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) has announced results for the third quarter of 2013. Total revenues increased 10 percent to $4,748 million, with 11 percent product sales growth driven by strong performance across the portfolio, particularly from Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim), Enbrel® (etanercept), Prolia® (denosumab) and XGEVA® (denosumab).

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) has reported results for the third quarter of 2013 highlighted by the strong performance of key marketed products such as Yervoy, Orencia and Sprycel, the presentation of important clinical data for its immuno-oncology pipeline, and the presentation of key cardiovascular outcomes data for Onglyza®.