AstraZeneca and MAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc. have announced an exclusive worldwide agreement to develop and commercialise Unit Dose Budesonide (UDB), MAP Pharmaceuticals' proprietary nebulised formulation of budesonide. UDB is being developed by MAP Pharmaceuticals as a potential treatment for paediatric asthma and is currently in Phase III clinical development.

Bayer HealthCare and the Association of German Medical Journalists (VDMJ) have jointly announced the 2009 Advances in Renal Cancer Journalists’ Award Europe, which will honor journalists who have dealt with the issue of renal cancer in a critical and objective manner. The award, endowed with EUR 7,500, is donated by Bayer HealthCare. Eligible for the award are printed media, radio, television and film reports.

Novartis shareholders have followed the Board of Directors' recommendations for all proposed resolutions at the Group's Annual General Meeting. These included a 25% increase in the dividend payment for 2008, the rejection of the introduction of a consultative vote on the remuneration report and the election of William Brody, M.D., Ph.D. as a new Board member.

Abbott today announced the successful completion of the tender offer by its wholly owned subsidiary Rainforest Acquisition Inc. to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Advanced Medical Optics (AMO). The tender offer expired at midnight Eastern time on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009, and was not extended.

Pfizer Inc has announced that, following a review of the development and commercial portfolios in the Primary Care Business Unit, it is terminating Phase 3 development programs for the investigational compounds esreboxetine for fibromyalgia and PD 332,334 for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

For Nycomed the twelve months of 2008 have been satisfactory and most of the markets performed well and met expectations. Key products developed strongly, with the exception of Pantoprazole sales in the United States and Canada, which is due to “at-risk” launch and generic competition, respectively. The company's integration restructuring showed its full cost-savings effect in 2008.

Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) has announced a license agreement between Nobilon, Schering-Plough's human vaccine business unit, and the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide access to pandemic influenza vaccine manufacturing technology to developing countries.