The Cancer Support Community (CSC) and the Amgen Foundation, today announced the launch of Open to Options", a program designed to bridge the communications gap between physicians and patients and inspire patient confidence in making treatment decisions.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced that the SUMMACTA study met its primary endpoint, showing comparable efficacy of the subcutaneous (SC) formulation of RoACTEMRA (tocilizumab, known as ACTEMRA outside Europe) 162mg weekly compared to 8 mg/kg RoACTEMRA intravenous (IV) formulation every 4 weeks.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and Action Pharma A/S, a privately owned company, announced that they have entered into an agreement in which Abbott will acquire AP214 from Action Pharma. AP214 is in development to prevent acute kidney injury (AKI) associated with major cardiac surgery in patients at increased risk and has further potential in adjacent indications.

Novartis has signed a definitive agreement to acquire specialty dermatology generics company Fougera Pharmaceuticals. Under the terms of the agreement, Novartis will acquire the business, which is based in Melville, New York, for USD 1.525 billion in an all-cash transaction.

GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) and Yale University have established a drug discovery research collaboration to design a potential new class of medicines that degrade disease-causing proteins. The collaboration combines GSK's expertise in medicinal chemistry with Yale's pioneering work on proteolysis targeting chimeric molecules or PROTACs.

Recently announced results from two-year CATT[1] (Comparison of Age-related macular degeneration Treatment Trials) adds to the growing body of evidence, including CATT 1-year data and two retrospective database analyses[2],[3],[4], suggesting serious safety concerns associated with the use of unlicensed intravitreal Avastin® (bevacizumab).

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today reported financial results for first-quarter 2012. First-quarter 2012 revenues were $15.4 billion, a decrease of 7% compared with $16.5 billion in the year-ago quarter, which reflects an operational decline of $1.0 billion, or 6%, and the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange of $57 million, or less than 1%.