The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Afinitor® (everolimus) tablets* (approval represents the first major advance for US patients with advanced HR+ breast cancer since aromatase inhibitors were introduced more than 15 years ago[1])

Group net sales reached USD 14.3 billion (-4%, +1% cc) in the second quarter, with growth from recently launched products more than offsetting the loss associated with the Diovan patent expiration.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012. Diluted earnings per share, excluding specified items, were $1.23, reflecting 9.8 percent growth, exceeding Abbott's guidance range.

AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) announced plans to conduct the EUCLID study, a global clinical trial involving 11,500 patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition affecting approximately 27 million people in Europe and North America.

GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE: GSK) and Human Genome Sciences (NASDAQ: HGSI) have entered into a definitive agreement under which GSK will acquire HGS for US$14.25 per share in cash. The transaction values HGS at approximately US$3.6 billion on an equity basis, or approximately US$3 billion net of cash and debt,

GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) and Theravance, Inc. (NASDAQ: THRX) announced the submission of regulatory applications in the US and European Union for the once-daily investigational medicine fluticasone furoate "FF"/vilanterol "VI" (FF/VI) for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a regulatory application for asthma in the European Union.

In future patients with certain diseases, especially chronic ones, should be treated in a more holistic approach beyond drug treatment only. Thus Boehringer Ingelheim is concentrating on new business models and healthcare innovation and just signed a contract with the US company Healthrageous, Inc., a digital health management company.