Revenue in the third quarter increased by 10 percent at CER, but was up 5 percent on an actual basis as a result of the negative impact of exchange rate movements. Revenue benefited from strong growth of the Toprol-XL franchise in the US as a result of the market withdrawal by two generic competitors and from revenues from US government orders for vaccine for Novel Influenza A (H1N1); adjusting for these factors, global revenue increased by 5 percent.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) has completed its acquisition of privately held eye care company Visiogen, expanding the company's vision care business with a next-generation accommodating intraocular lens (IOL) technology to address presbyopia for cataract patients.

Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) and Gedeon Richter Plc announced positive top-line results from a Phase IIb clinical trial of the novel, investigational antipsychotic agent cariprazine for the treatment of acute exacerbation of schizophrenia.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that this week, approximately half a million people will have received its pandemic H1N1 vaccine, Pandemrix™, as part of Government initiated vaccination programmes across Europe, which commenced earlier this month. GSK also announced new results from a clinical trial assessing the use of Pandemrix in adults aged 18 to 85 years of age.

Boehringer Ingelheim, a global pharmaceutical group of companies, together with its U.S. animal health business Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., has closed its deal with Pfizer to acquire a significant portion of the Fort Dodge Animal Health business.

Novartis maintained the strong underlying momentum of 2009 as third-quarter net sales grew 7% in local currencies, while reported net sales rose 3% to USD 11.1 billion as four percentage points of growth were lost to adverse currency movements.

Merck KGaA announced that Group total revenues rose 2.7% in the third quarter to € 1,944 million from € 1,893 million in the year-ago quarter as the Pharmaceuticals divisions continued to grow and the Chemicals divisions continued to recover from the economic crisis. Royalty income declined 9.7% to € 82 million.