New findings from the longest assessment of any MS-specific treatment show that patients treated earlier with Betaferon® (interferon beta-1b) had a 39.3% relative reduced risk in mortality for the time since randomization in the study (P=0.027), compared with patients receiving placebo for up to the first five years of treatment.

At the launch of the World Health Organization's (WHO) first report on Neglected Tropical Diseases today, GSK announced a new five year commitment to expand the donation of its medicine albendazole to treat children at risk of intestinal worms, known as soil-transmitted helminths (STH).

Merck KGaA announced the upcoming introduction of the new device RebiDose, the Rebif single use pre-filled pen, for the self-administration of Rebif (interferon beta-1a), a disease-modifying drug used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Results announced from a national survey of Alzheimer's disease (AD) caregivers found that memory loss and confusion, which are cognitive symptoms, in addition to personal safety, are the greatest concerns related to the progression of their loved one's AD.

Genzyme Corporation (Nasdaq: GENZ) reported five-year patient data from its completed Phase 2 multiple sclerosis (MS) trial. This sub-group analysis found that nearly 90 percent of alemtuzumab-treated patients were free of sustained accumulation of disability, and that patients receiving alemtuzumab also maintained improved mean disability scores and a low risk of relapse over the 60-month follow-up period.

H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) announced an agreement to create and develop human antibody therapeutics for disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) with Genmab A/S (Genmab). Following the agreement, Genmab will create novel human antibodies to a defined number of targets identified by Lundbeck.

At a ceremony at the WHO's headquarters in Geneva, Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis, and Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the WHO, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to continue their collaboration toward a world free of leprosy.