The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published a study that shows Afinitor® (everolimus) tablets plus best supportive care (BSC) more than doubled progression-free survival (PFS), or time without tumor growth, versus placebo plus BSC in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET)[1].

Bayer HealthCare announced that its investigational anti-cancer compound regorafenib (BAY 73-4506) has been granted orphan drug status for the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced that OCEANS, a phase III study evaluating Avastin (bevacizumab) in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and gemcitabine) followed by continued use of Avastin alone until disease progression in women with previously treated (recurrent), platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, met its primary endpoint.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced revised US prescribing information and medication guides for all rosiglitazone-containing medicines (Avandia®, Avandamet® and Avandaryl®) to include additional safety information and restrictions on the use of these medicines.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Ferrosan's consumer healthcare business, which includes dietary supplements and lifestyle products, from Altor 2003 Fund GP Limited.

Nycomed is expanding its presence in Latin America through the acquisition of Laboratorios Farmacol S.A., a Colombia based pharmaceutical company, which has a strong presence in the areas of gastroenterology, respiratory and gynaecology.

Pfizer Japan Inc. ("Pfizer", headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda", headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) announced an agreement to extend the period for co-promotion in Japan for the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug Enbrel® (generic name: etanercept).