Genzyme Corporation (Nasdaq: GENZ) reported four-year follow-up data from its completed Phase 2 multiple sclerosis (MS) trial showing an estimated 71 percent of alemtuzumab treated patients remain free of clinically-active disease as much as three years after most patients received their last course of the investigational compound.

Data from the two-year FREEDOMS study showed that Gilenia* 0.5 mg reduced annual relapse rates (ARR) by 62% for treatment naïve patients compared to placebo. For patients previously receiving other treatments, the annual relapse rates were reduced by 44%.

Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) and CureDM Group Holdings, LLC, announced today a global license agreement on a novel human peptide, Pancreate™, which could restore a patients' ability to produce insulin and other pancreatic hormones in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Nycomed and its partner Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) received the approval for TachoSil®, a surgical patch, from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). TachoSil has been approved as an adjunct to haemostasis (control of bleeding) in cardiovascular surgery.

H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) strengthens its pipeline of pharmaceuticals in clinical development by initiating phase I clinical studies with Lu AE04621 in order to investigate safety, tolerability and the pharmacokinetic profile of the drug in humans.

Boehringer Ingelheim announced the launch of its corporate venture capital fund, the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF). The BIVF aims to invest in Biotech and Start-up companies that provide ground-breaking therapeutic approaches and technologies to help drive innovation in medical science.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced a new strategic alliance that will apply the Isis antisense drug discovery platform to seek out and develop new therapeutics against targets for rare and serious disease, including infectious diseases and some conditions causing blindness.