Novartis' net sales rose 27% (+19% cc) to USD 14.9 billion. Currency benefited sales by 8% as the US dollar weakened against most currencies. Recently launched products grew 46% over the previous-year quarter, contributing USD 3.8 billion to total net sales for the Group.

Abbott plans to develop two new formulations of its HIV medicines, Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) and Norvir (ritonavir), to offer new formulation options for people living with HIV-1. The company is currently investigating a new powder formulation of Norvir as well as a co-formulation of three HIV medicines - lopinavir, ritonavir and 3TC (lamivudine).

Novartis has started shipping seasonal influenza vaccine to its US customers for the 2011-2012 influenza season. Early delivery of seasonal influenza vaccine will ensure healthcare professionals have the ability to provide the earliest possible protection against influenza.

Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) today announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for XGEVA® (denosumab) for the prevention of skeletal-related events (SREs) (pathological fracture, radiation to bone, spinal cord compression or surgery to bone) in adults with bone metastases from solid tumors.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced that, during a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hearing, the FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) recommended that the FDA withdraw its approval of Avastin® (bevacizumab) in combination with paclitaxel chemotherapy for previously untreated (first-line) HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.

John C. Lechleiter, Ph.D., chairman, president and chief executive officer of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY), urged that biopharmaceuticals be included in transatlantic trade and economic discussions.

Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) and its subsidiary Genzyme announced positive top-line results from CARE-MS I, the first of two randomized, Phase 3 clinical trials comparing the investigational drug alemtuzumab to the approved multiple sclerosis therapy Rebif® (high dose subcutaneous interferon beta-1a) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).