Schering-Plough Corp., (NYSE: SGP) has announced results from the Phase III ENGAGE clinical trial demonstrating that a single injection of corifollitropin alfa, first in the class of sustained follicle stimulants, achieved similar efficacy to recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) given once daily for seven days.

Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany and Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. together with Schering Corporation have filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the U.S. Federal Court in the District of Delaware against Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.

AstraZeneca announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorisation for the oral anti-cancer drug, IRESSA for the treatment of adults with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with activating mutations of EGFR-TK (epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase) across all lines of therapy.

Pfizer Inc announced the discontinuation of the SUN 1122 Phase 3 trial that evaluated Sutent® (sunitinib malate) plus FOLFIRI (irinotecan plus infusional 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin) versus FOLFIRI alone for the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC).

AstraZeneca announced that its development partner, Pozen, Inc., has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for VIMOVO (PN400) (enteric coated naproxen/esomeprazole magnesium) tablets, a product under investigation for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in patients who are at risk of developing NSAID-associated ulcers.

Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany, has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Celera Corporation, California, USA, providing Bayer Schering Pharma with access to five cancer-related targets for therapeutic development and in-vivo diagnostic imaging. These therapeutic targets were identified by Celera's proteomics discovery platform.

Novo Nordisk has reached a settlement with the Danish Public Prosecutor for Serious Economic Crime regarding the company's sales to Iraq during 2000 to 2003 under the United Nations Oil-for-Food programme.