The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion for Rasilamlo(TM) (aliskiren and amlodipine) to treat high blood pressure patients not adequately controlled by either aliskiren or amlodipine alone.

Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) and Genzyme Corporation (NASDAQ: GENZ) have entered into a definitive agreement under which sanofi-aventis is to acquire Genzyme for $74.00 per share in cash, or approximately $20.1 billion.

Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ) reported fourth-quarter 2010 results that reflect increasing supplies of Cerezyme® (imiglucerase for injection) and Fabrazyme® (agalsidase beta), revenue growth across all major product lines, and reductions in operating expenses.

Pfēnex Inc., an industry leader in protein expression through the Pfēnex Expression Technology™ platform and Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, a leading pharmaceutical company and global leader in biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacture, have entered into a strategic agreement.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced that the Mirror Portfolio, a concept created by Lilly to access innovation being developed outside the company's walls, has achieved a significant milestone.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced the incorporation of its pneumococcal vaccine into the Kenyan national immunisation programme. Kenya is the first African country to receive pneumococcal vaccines through the innovative financing mechanism known as the Advance Market Commitment (AMC),

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) announced the publication of the full results of the AVERROES study of apixaban in The New England Journal of Medicine.