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.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced financial results for the third quarter of 2011. In the third quarter of 2011, worldwide total revenue was $6.148 billion, an increase of 9 percent compared with the third quarter of 2010.

Abbott's worldwide sales increased 13.2 percent to $9.8 billion, including a favorable 5.3 percent effect of foreign exchange. Proprietary Pharmaceuticals sales increased 13.5 percent in the quarter.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) announced a series of related changes within its Senior Management Team. Giovanni Caforio has been promoted to president, U.S. Pharmaceuticals.

Today Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced that it plans to separate into two publicly traded companies, one in diversified medical products and the other in research-based pharmaceuticals.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced that the Phase III HannaH study demonstrated comparable efficacy of a new, investigational subcutaneous (SC) formulation of Herceptin (trastuzumab) to the standard intravenous (IV) infusion of Herceptin in women with HER2-positive early breast cancer.

Novartis will showcase data from 13 abstracts on fingolimod (Gilenya®), at the 5th Joint Triennial Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) and Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) taking place from 19-22 October in Amsterdam.