Roche is investing 215 million Swiss francs (136 million euros) in research, development and production at its site in Penzberg, near Munich. The money will be used to construct a multi-purpose building for Roche Diagnostics.

Shire Limited (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces that following the approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on September 24, 2008, the Company has changed its name to Shire plc with effect from today.

Bayer Schering Pharma and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have agreed to cooperate in the field of pre-clinical cancer research. The initial collaboration with the NUS will focus on three joint projects in the field of oncology.

Data from a 52-week phase 3 study (LEAD™ 3) of liraglutide, a once-daily human GLP-1 analogue, were published by The Lancet. The study showed that liraglutide, when taken alone, produces statistically significant and sustained improvements in blood sugar control in patients with early type 2 diabetes, as compared with glimepiride, a widely used oral antidiabetic drug.

AstraZeneca today announced that the US District Court for the District of New Jersey has denied Teva's Motion for Summary Judgment of no infringement in the PULMICORT RESPULES (budesonide inhalation suspension) patent litigation.

Nycomed has announced a new strategy for its European manufacturing network. The company will focus its European production at five dedicated centres of competence and five facilities for regional supply. To optimise utilisation, production from two Danish and the Finnish plant will be transferred to other sites.

Pfizer Inc launches of a new interactive online educational resource designed to give healthcare professionals, medical students, patients, patient advocates and the general public more information about medicine safety, and, in turn, more confidence when making decisions about appropriate treatment options.