AstraZeneca's Revenue in the third quarter was down 2 percent at CER, but was up 4 percent on an actual basis as a result of the positive impact of exchange rate movements. Revenue performance was impacted by government price interventions and the loss of more than $350 million in revenue to generic competition.

Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) reported total revenue increased 3 percent during the third quarter of 2011 to $3,944 million versus $3,816 million in the third quarter of 2010. Total product sales increased 3 percent in the third quarter of 2011 to $3,877 million versus $3,759 million in the third quarter of 2010.

The breadth and mix of GSK's product and geographic portfolio is helping the Group to mitigate economic volatility. In the quarter, underlying and reported sales grew 6% and 3% respectively, reflecting growth across all three areas of our business - Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare.

Total revenues of the Merck Group increased 3.8% to € 2,532 million in the third quarter from € 2,438 million in the year-ago quarter with solid contributions from the Pharmaceuticals divisions and the Merck Millipore life science division.

Novartis' net sales rose 18% (+12% cc) to USD 14.8 billion in the third quarter. Sales were up mainly due to a strong performance from recently launched products, which contributed USD 3.6 billion or 25% to total net sales for the Group and grew 31% over the previous-year quarter.

Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced the appointment of David Meeker as Chief Executive Officer of Genzyme, a Sanofi company, effective November 1, 2011. He will report to Christopher A. Viehbacher, Chief Executive Officer of Sanofi, and will join the Group Management Committee. Christopher A. Viehbacher will retain the position of Chairman, Genzyme.

Novartis has announced positive results from three Phase II trials showing that AIN457 (secukinumab) produced a quick and significant improvement of symptoms in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The results were presented at the annual European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress, in Lisbon, Portugal.