GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that it has received approval in Japan from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for Revolade (eltrombopag) for the treatment of the blood disorder, chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and for Xyzal (levocetirizine dihydrochloride), the first new anti-histamine to be made available in Japan for eight years.

Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) and BMP Sunstone Corporation (NASDAQ: BJGP) have entered into a definitive agreement under which sanofi-aventis is to acquire all outstanding shares of BMP Sunstone for cash consideration of USD 10 per share, or a total of approximately USD 520.6 million on a fully diluted basis.

Merck KGaA announced that it will sell Théramex, its Monaco-based pharmaceutical company specialized in women's health and gynecology, to Teva. Merck and Teva have signed an agreement whereby Teva will acquire all Théramex operations including 100% of the shares of Théramex S.A.M of Monaco and Théramex S.p.A. of Italy for a consideration of EUR 265 million.

Sales of the Bayer Group rose by 16.1 percent in the third quarter, to EUR 8,581 million (Q3 2009: EUR 7,392 million). Adjusted for currency and portfolio effects, business expanded by 8.4 percent. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) - before special items - improved by 10.5 percent to EUR 1,656 million (Q3 2009: EUR 1,499 million).

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced the publication of data showing that 57 percent of ALK-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with crizotinib (PF-02341066), an investigational oral anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor, had either a complete (one patient) or partial (46 patients) response to treatment.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) reported results for the third quarter of 2010. Highlights in the quarter included: the presentation of new data on investigational compounds in the diabetes and cardiovascular disease franchises at major medical meetings; the completion of important regulatory milestones in the oncology, diabetes and immunoscience franchises; the acquisition of ZymoGenetics; and double-digit EPS growth.

Merck Group third-quarter total revenues increased 25% to a record EUR 2,438 million from EUR 1,950 million in the year-ago quarter, boosted by the EUR 5.1 billion acquisition of Millipore Corporation, Billerica, Massachusetts, USA, on July 14.