The Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) region is facing one of the greatest healthcare challenges of our time: the diabetes pandemic. It is estimated that 26.6 million people in the region have diabetes and this number is set to double to 51.7 million by 2030.

New data to be presented show that afatinib (BIBW 2992) leads to a significant four-fold extension (4.4 months vs. 1 month for placebo) in progression-free survival - the time before a tumour starts to grow again - for lung cancer patients most likely to have an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation.

GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) has entered into an agreement to acquire Nanjing MeiRui Pharma Co., Ltd (MeiRui) for a cash consideration of approximately $70 million.

The Amgen Foundation and Ashoka's Changemakers today announced three winners for the Patients | Choices | Empowerment competition. Each winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize and was selected by the public for their innovative solutions that empower and elevate patients' voices to improve health outcomes.

Merck KGaA is supporting the World Health Organization (WHO) in the fight against the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis, which is the most common tropical disease in Africa after malaria and a major public health problem. Around 200 million people in Africa suffer from schistosomiasis, 200,000 of whom die each year.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) today announced interim results from the Phase 2 portion of a Phase 1b/2 open-label study which showed a high objective response rate (ORR) among patients with relapsed multiple myeloma who received elotuzumab plus lenalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone.

Novo Nordisk presented data from a phase 2 trial evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of a recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) analogue, designed to have a faster action profile than NovoSeven® (rFVIIa) in haemophilia patients with inhibitors (antibody formation against factor preparations).