AstraZeneca has commenced dosing patients in a global Phase IIb study to compare the efficacy and safety of AZD9773 (CytoFab) with placebo in adult patients with severe sepsis and/or septic shock receiving best supportive care. The Phase IIb study is a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled trial in 300 patients which will evaluate the efficacy of two intravenous dosing regimens of AZD9773.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Herceptin (trastuzumab) in combination with chemotherapy (cisplatin plus either capecitabine or 5-fluorouracil [5-FU]) for HER2-positive metastatic cancer of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction, in men and women who have not received prior medicines for their metastatic disease.

Net sales rose 13% (+16% cc) to USD 12.6 billion with strong contributions from all businesses. Currency movements depressed the result by 3 percentage points. Rapid growth of recently launched products across the Group generated USD 2.3 billion in sales, representing 20%* of total sales.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate),(1) Boehringer Ingelheim's novel, oral direct thrombin inhibitor(2) for stroke risk reduction in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) marking the first approval of a new oral anticoagulant in the U.S. in more than 50 years.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced that it is entering into a partnership with Laboratorio Teuto Brasileiro S.A., a leading company in the Brazilian generics industry, to develop and commercialize generic medicines.

Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ) reported third-quarter earnings growth driven by increased shipments of Cerezyme® (imiglucerase for injection). Patients in the United States began returning to normal dosing levels last month, and patients globally are expected to be able to do so this quarter.

Genzyme Corporation (Nasdaq: GENZ) announced results from its CLASSIC I phase 3 trial comparing Clolar® (clofarabine) in combination with the chemotherapy agent cytarabine (ara-c) to cytarabine plus placebo in relapsed-refractory adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML).