The Bayer Group plans to continue investing heavily in research and development and expects its Pharmaceuticals business in particular to generate substantial sales with the new products that are scheduled to be launched in the next 18 months.

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) and Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE:WPI) announced that they will collaborate to develop and commercialize, on a worldwide basis, several oncology antibody biosimilar medicines.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) has entered into a second supply agreement which will broaden and extend the duration of the Company's commitment to help protect millions of infants and young children in the developing world from pneumococcal disease - the leading cause of vaccine-preventable death in young children.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) and Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (NYSE: SCR), a leading pharmaceutical company in China, have expanded the strategic partnership formed last year to include a second collaboration in a different therapeutic area.

Phase III clinical trial data contribute to the growing evidence that adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase who are treated with Tasigna® (nilotinib) have deeper levels of response compared to those treated with Glivec® (imatinib)*[1],[2].

Merck KGaA announced its intention to further boost its efforts in the fight against the tropical disease schistosomiasis and to continue until the disease has been officially eliminated in Africa. The company plans to double its annual donation of tablets containing the active ingredient praziquantel from 25 million to 50 million in the medium term.

Abbott and Reata Pharmaceuticals have entered into a worldwide collaboration to jointly develop and commercialize Reata's portfolio of second-generation oral antioxidant inflammation modulators (AIMs).