Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced results from a Phase III study of Avastin (bevacizumab) that showed women with previously untreated advanced ovarian cancer who received Avastin in combination with chemotherapy, followed by the continuation of Avastin alone, had a 39 percent improvement in the likelihood of living longer without the disease worsening compared to chemotherapy alone.

Results from a Phase 3 study demonstrate MACUGEN® (pegaptanib sodium) significantly improved vision in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), a complication of diabetes that is a leading cause of blindness in people of working age.(1)

Merck announced the launch of the Merck Oncology Collaborative Trials Network, a pioneering clinical trial network focusing on the development of Merck drug and vaccine candidates being investigated for the treatment and prevention of cancer.

Amgen Inc. (Nasdaq: AMGN) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Prolia(TM) (denosumab) for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture, defined as a history of osteoporotic fracture, or multiple risk factors for fracture; or patients who have failed or are intolerant to other available osteoporosis therapy.

Novo Nordisk today announced that it has received approval of the price of Victoza®, a once-daily human GLP-1 analogue for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, from Japan's Central Social Insurance Medical Council (Chuikyo), the advisory committee to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

AstraZeneca has received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the new drug application for AXANUM (aspirin/esomeprazole magnesium) tablets.

Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) and Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Nichi-Iko) (Osaka Stock Exchange and Nagoya Stock Exchange: NIK) have signed an agreement to establish a new joint venture, called sanofi-aventis Nichi-Iko K.K., in order to develop a generic business in Japan.