The Merck Group's first-quarter 2012 total revenues rose 3.2% to € 2,645 million compared to € 2,564 million in the first quarter of 2011. Sales for the Group increased 3.5% to € 2,564 million in first quarter compared to € 2,478 million in the year-ago quarter.

Pfizer Inc announced that the Phase 3 INTORSECT (B1771003) study, evaluating TORISEL® (temsirolimus) in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) whose disease had progressed on or after SUTENT® (sunitinib malate) therapy, did not meet the primary endpoint of prolonging progression free survival (PFS) when compared to sorafenib.

GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) has entered into an agreement to acquire those shares it does not currently own in Cellzome, a leader in the development and advancement of proteomics technologies, for £61 million (US$99 million) in cash.

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation today announced the expansion of its Together on Diabetes® initiative to China and India, pledging $15 million over five years to help these developing nations with rapidly growing numbers of type 2 diabetes patients.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) and Tsinghua University of Beijing, China, today announced the formation of a multi-year strategic partnership. Under the agreement, Bristol-Myers Squibb will fund research efforts at Tsinghua University's School of Life Sciences to identify and validate novel targets in oncology and immunoscience.

H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) today announced positive top-line results from three recently completed phase III clinical studies of Lu AA21004, an investigational drug for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) using dosages from 10 to 20mg.

GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE: GSK) today announced that it has commenced its previously announced tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Human Genome Sciences (NASDAQ: HGSI) for US$13.00 per share in cash.