Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.49 for the third quarter of 2009, an increase of 21 percent compared to $1.23 for the third quarter of 2008. Adjusted net income increased 16 percent to $1,518 million in the third quarter of 2009 compared to $1,308 million in the third quarter of 2008.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) reported financial results for third-quarter 2009. Revenues were $11.6 billion, a decrease of 3% compared with $12.0 billion in the year-ago quarter. Revenues for third-quarter 2009 compared with the year-ago quarter were unfavorably impacted by approximately $610 million, or 5%, due to foreign exchange and were favorably impacted by $217 million, or 2%, due to a one-time adjustment in the year-ago period for prior years' liabilities for product returns.

- Tasigna produced faster and deeper responses compared to Glivec as first-line treatment in Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia
- First registration study using molecular response as key indicator of patient outcomes; Bcr-Abl biomarker test measures very low levels of residual disease[1],[2]

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.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved CERVARIX® [Human papillomavirus bivalent (types 16 and 18) vaccine, recombinant] for the prevention of cervical pre-cancers and cervical cancer associated with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 for use in girls and young women (aged 10-25).

Boehringer Ingelheim announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new indication for Micardis® (telmisartan) for the reduction of the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke, or death from cardiovascular (CV) causes in patients 55 years of age or older at high risk of developing major CV events who are unable to take ACE inhibitors.

AstraZeneca announced the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) for use in children ages 10-17 with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) when diet therapy fails to reduce elevated cholesterol. HeFH, a genetic disease, is characterized by high LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) and increased risk of early cardiovascular disease.