Sales in the second quarter increased by 9 percent at CER, but were flat on an actual basis as a result of the negative impact of exchange rate movements. Sales benefited from strong growth of the Toprol-XL franchise in the US as a result of the market withdrawal by two generic competitors; adjusting for this, global sales increased by 6 percent.

The pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim again posted gratifying growth in local currency (+8.3 percent) over the previous year in the first six months of 2009. Consolidated in euro, this reflected growth of + 15.7 percent thanks to the positive exchange rates, with net sales of EUR 6,388 million compared with EUR 5,522 million in the first six months of the previous year.

Pfizer has announced a joint initiative with the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (SIBS) to support fundamental research in China. As part of the initiative, Pfizer China will provide US$500,000 each year over three years to fund health-related fundamental research projects at SIBS and its application to drug discovery and development programs in the country.

Abbott announced a definitive agreement to acquire the nutrition businesses of Wockhardt Limited, Carol Info Services Limited, and certain Wockhardt subsidiaries and group companies for consideration totaling approximately US$130 million in cash.

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced a collaboration in which the companies will share commercialization of Amgen's monoclonal antibody denosumab for postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico once the product is approved in these countries.

Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.29 for the second quarter of 2009, an increase of 13 percent compared to $1.14 for the second quarter of 2008. Adjusted net income increased 6 percent to $1,311 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $1,235 million in the second quarter of 2008.

Merck KGaA announced that Group total revenues were steady in the second quarter and in the first half of 2009 at € 1,902 million and € 3,756 million, respectively. Royalty income was down 14% to € 75 million in the second quarter but up 7.0% to € 173 million in the first half.