Pfizer Inc. commented on an abstract concerning the ORAL Sync Phase 3 study of tofacitinib in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) which has been posted for the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) conference.

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals is aware of two studies published in The British Medical Journal. These papers are "Risk of venous thromboembolism in users of oral contraceptives containing drospirenone or levonorgestrel: nested case-control study based on UK General Practice Research Database" by Lianne Parkin et al (1); and

H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) announced that Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Mochida) has obtained approval of Lexapro® 10 mg (escitalopram) from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW).

Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) and UCB (Euronext Brussels: UCB) announced positive top-line results from their Phase 2 clinical study comparing sclerostin-antibody AMG 785/CDP7851 to placebo in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density (BMD) for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO).

Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.34 for the first quarter of 2011, an increase of 3 percent compared to $1.30 for the first quarter of 2010. Adjusted net income decreased 2 percent to $1,258 million in the first quarter of 2011 compared to $1,282 million in the first quarter of 2010.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011. Worldwide sales increased 17.4 percent to more than $9 billion, including a favorable 1.3 percent effect of foreign exchange, which was driven by double-digit growth in each of Abbott's three major business categories.

Novartis' net sales rose 16% (+14% cc) to USD 14.0 billion. Currency benefited sales by 2% as the dollar weakened against most currencies. Excluding A(H1N1) pandemic flu vaccine sales and Alcon, net sales grew 10% (+8% cc).