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).

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) welcomes the agreement reached at the Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) coordinated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on a Framework to support global preparedness for a future influenza pandemic.

In the first three months of 2011 Group sales remained stable in local currencies (-9% in Swiss francs; +2% in US dollars) at 11.1 billion Swiss francs.

Pfizer Inc. announced top-line results from the ORAL Scan Phase 3 study (A3921044) of tofacitinib (development code: CP-690,550), formerly known as tasocitinib, an investigational, novel, oral JAK inhibitor.

Bayer's rivaroxaban (Xarelto®) has been submitted for marketing approval in the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW).

Genzyme Corp., a subsidiary of sanofi-aventis Group (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), reported additional five-year patient data from its completed Phase 2 multiple sclerosis (MS) trial showing that nearly two-thirds of alemtuzumab treated patients remained free of clinically-active disease

Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) ("Forest") has successfully completed its acquisition of Clinical Data, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLDA) ("Clinical Data") by means of what is known as a short-form merger under Delaware law.