Boehringer Ingelheim, a global leader in biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacture, and VTU Technology, a leading supplier of exclusive technologies and comprehensive services for the development of high-performance Pichia pastoris protein expression strains, have entered into a global Technology and Marketing collaboration agreement.

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation announced Together on Diabetes®: Communities Uniting to Meet America's Diabetes Challenge, a 5-year, $100 million initiative to help patients living with type 2 diabetes better manage their disease beyond the doors of their doctor's office - in their homes and communities - and for the course of their disease.

Nycomed's strategy of focusing on emerging markets and specialty products is paying off. The third quarter results shows that the sales of Key Products and in emerging markets are continuing to help offset the impact from the loss of exclusivity of pantoprazole.

Alpine mountaineer and Alzheimer's disease advocate Alan Arnette will embark later this month to climb the 7 Summits, the highest peak on each continent. This ambitious year-long climbing campaign - The 7 Summits Climb for Alzheimer's: Memories are Everything - aims to raise awareness of the growing Alzheimer's prevalence in our aging population and the enormous financial and personal burden it places on people with the disease, their caregivers and society.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced results from a Phase II clinical study of RG7204 (PLX4032), an investigational first-in-class molecule designed to selectively inhibit a cancer-causing, mutated form of the BRAF protein found in approximately half of metastatic melanoma tumors.

Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ) has responded to a letter sent earlier by Sanofi-Aventis relating to its unsolicited tender offer. Genzyme's response reiterates the unanimous view of its board of directors that the $69-per-share offer price is not an appropriate starting point for discussions because it dramatically undervalues the company.

Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) has sent a letter to Genzyme Corporation (NASDAQ: GENZ) requesting that Genzyme clarify its position on a number of potential Board actions raised in Genzyme's Schedule 14D-9.