Merck KGaA announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a negative opinion regarding the marketing authorization application (MAA) for Cladribine Tablets as a treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS).

Late-breaking data were presented from the investigator-initiated COMPARE trial of 1,800 real-world patients involving Abbott's (NYSE: ABT) market-leading XIENCE V(R) Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System and the TAXUS(R) Liberte(R) Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stent System (TAXUS).

Novartis announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the oral multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment Gilenya(TM) (fingolimod) 0.5 mg daily, a first-line treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis - the most common forms of the disease. The FDA approval makes Gilenya the first oral treatment indicated for relapsing forms of MS available in the US.

Amgen and Pfizer announced the launch of "Psophisticated Style: A Guide to Everyday Style and Psoriasis(TM)", an online resource, providing a wealth of style advice specifically for people with psoriasis. Hosted by Tim Gunn, mentor to the designers on TV's "Project Runway" and chief creative officer of Liz Claiborne, Inc. and dermatologist Susan C. Taylor, M.D., the style guide includes five videos, which illustrate various style issues for individuals with psoriasis.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) has been commended by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for its approach to addressing climate change. For the fourth consecutive year, CDP named Pfizer to its Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index, which highlights the company's climate change disclosure practices.

More than one in three diabetes patients skip doses or fail to take their insulin as prescribed, stating that they have done so on average three times in the last month, and 77% of physicians estimate that in reality this number could be as high as six doses*, according to the Global Attitudes of Patients and Physicians in Insulin Therapy (GAPPTM) survey, released today by Novo Nordisk.

Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced results of two studies presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 46th Annual Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden.