Boehringer Ingelheim announced the initiation of a phase III clinical trial to investigate one of its most advanced oncology pipeline compounds, afatinib, for the treatment of patients with advanced (metastatic) breast cancer.

What makes Merck what it is, what distinguishes it from other companies? Answers to these questions can now be found in an image brochure entitled "The Merck Way". Dr. Walter Huber, Head of Corporate Communications, explained: "The 28-page illustrated brochure presents the company's culture, values, history, strategy and objectives as well as the business sectors and the ownership structure.

Following the 1st July announcement by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Genmab A/S (OMX: GEN) of an amendment to the collaborative agreement for ofatumumab in which GSK assumed development responsibility for autoimmune indications, GSK and Genmab announced plans to refocus the development programme of ofatumumab in autoimmune indications.

Results from a Phase I/II study of the Novartis Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor with the investigational name INC424 (also known as INCB018424 and INCB18424) were published in The New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrating marked and durable clinical benefits in patients with myelofibrosis[2].

Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) has finalized a previously reported agreement-in-principle to resolve all aspects of the investigations led by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts that began in January 2004 relating to past marketing, sales, and other activities in connection with Celexa(R), Lexapro(R), and a formulation of Levothroid(R) that Forest ceased distributing in 2003.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) has been named one of the 100 Best Companies by Working Mother magazine. This was the tenth consecutive year that Abbott has been included on the prestigious list, which recognizes companies for leadership in providing family-friendly benefits, programs and workplace culture.

Abbott was included on both the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and North America Index for the sixth consecutive year. The Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) recognize the leading companies in each industry sector for responsible economic, environmental and social performance.