Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) and Xencor, Inc. will collaborate to develop XmAb(R)5871, an Fc- engineered monoclonal antibody dually targeting CD19 and CD32b. XmAb5871 is currently in late-stage preclinical development for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has included roflumilast (Daxas®) as a new treatment option in its COPD management guidelines. A section on the new class, phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors, describes the efficacy of roflumilast in patients with COPD.

Merck KGaA has acquired 100% of the share capital of Beijing Skywing Technology Co., Ltd., a leading supplier of cell-culture media products, related technical services and bioreactors for the Chinese biopharmaceutical industry. The company is headquartered in the Changping district of Beijing and currently employs 80 people.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) issued the following response regarding a 60 Minutes program on January 2 that focused on a manufacturing facility in Puerto Rico which was formerly owned by the company.

H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) announced the completion of two out of three pivotal studies in the phase III clinical programme for nalmefene in alcohol dependence (ESENSE1 and SENSE). The studies were conducted in Europe and enrolled about 1,300 patients with alcohol dependence.

Novartis received approval from the European Commission for Tasigna® (nilotinib) as a treatment for adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase.

Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) and Ascendis Pharma (Ascendis) announced a global licensing and patent transfer agreement on Ascendis' proprietary TransCon Linker and Hydrogel carrier technology, which allows for a drug compound to be released in the body in a precise, time-controlled fashion, creating a long-acting effect.