The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tekturna HCT® (aliskiren and hydrochlorothiazide) tablets as initial therapy for patients who are likely to need multiple drugs to achieve their blood pressure goals.

Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ) reported that second-quarter revenue rose to $1.23 billion, compared with $1.17 billion in the same period a year ago, an increase of 5 percent. Including the $66 million impact of unfavorable currency exchange rates, revenue grew 11 percent in the second quarter.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) reported financial results for second-quarter 2009. Revenues were $11.0 billion, a decrease of 9% compared with the year-ago quarter and flat on a constant currency basis. Foreign exchange unfavorably impacted revenues by approximately $1.1 billion or 9%. For second-quarter 2009, U.S. revenues were $4.5 billion, a decrease of 5% compared with the year-ago quarter.

Roche has announced results from the international phase III study NO16968 (XELOXA), investigating oral Xeloda in combination with intravenous oxaliplatin (XELOX) immediately after surgery, which show that patients with colon cancer taking XELOX live disease free for longer compared to those taking the commonly used intravenous chemotherapy combination 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV).

Nycomed has announced the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Daxas® as a once-daily oral treatment for patients with symptomatic COPD. The NDA submission is based on encouraging results from four Phase III trials of Daxas® (roflumilast) in the treatment of symptomatic COPD.

• Pharmaceuticals an industry growth leader: Net sales up 12% (local currencies) in first half of 2009 on contributions from new products and expansion in all regions
• R&D maintains momentum: Anti-cancer therapy Afinitor introduced in the US, awaiting EU approval; new biologic Ilaris and OTC brand Prevacid 24HR gain US approvals; clinical trials set to start in July for A(H1N1) pandemic flu vaccine
• H1 2009 operating results advance well, but impacted negatively by currencies:

Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) today announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved under the European Union (EU) Merger Regulation the company's pending acquisition of Wyeth. The Commission's decision includes Pfizer's commitment to divest certain animal health assets in the EU.