Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ) announced today that ongoing discussions with sanofi-aventis have progressed to the point where Genzyme's board has authorized the company to enter into a confidentiality agreement with sanofi-aventis in order to allow Sanofi to conduct due diligence.

Net sales rose 14% (+14% cc) to USD 50.6 billion driven by strong growth in all businesses, including USD 2.4 billion from the consolidation of Alcon, Inc. (Alcon). Recently launched products provided USD 10.4 billion of net sales in the 2010 period, representing 21% of net sales compared to 16% in the 2009 period (excluding Alcon).

Bayer HealthCare and the Indian company Zydus Cadila signed an agreement in Mumbai, India, to form the Joint Venture Company Bayer Zydus Pharma. With this newly established marketing and sales enterprise, Bayer aims to enhance its presence in the fast growing pharmaceutical market in India.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) announced solid results for the fourth quarter of 2010. This concludes a year in which the Company presented key data on marketed and investigational products across its pipeline, completed important regulatory milestones, continued its focus on strategic transactions and delivered on its commitment to drive shareholder value.

Revenue in the fourth quarter was down 3 percent at CER and declined by 4 percent on an actual basis as a result of the negative impact of exchange rate movements. A strong 5 percent revenue increase in the Rest of World was more than offset by the 12 percent decline in US revenue resulting from generic competition for several products and the absence of H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine revenue.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2010. Worldwide sales increased 13.4 percent to nearly $10 billion, including an unfavorable 0.4 percent effect of foreign exchange rates.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) and sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN, NYSE: SNY) announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the companies an additional six-month period of exclusivity to market PLAVIX® (clopidogrel bisulfate).